Marine and coastal geoscience play a critical role in understanding ancient and modern geological history, offshore and coastal hazards, and climate change. Deep-water environments prevent scientists from directly visiting field sites, so unique methods must be employed for researching the ocean floor.One common approach is offshore drilling, which provides core samples that can be analyzed in laboratories. While this method is useful for retrieving otherwise inaccessible materials, it is expensive and has its limitations. A new study in Geosphere explores a more cost-effective alternative: deploying a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to record exposed rock layers on the ocean floor and construct virtual outcrops 

The paper – published today in Nature Communications – shows that while wildfire smoke increasingly covers large portions of the U.S., losses of average, or background, photovoltaic solar resources remain modest outside of the areas immediately surrounding active fires, where smoke plumes are dense.

A significant research grant from the Wellcome Trust will allow a team of researchers to identify the biological mechanisms through which magnetic forces affect animals, including humans

A new study led by researchers at the American Museum of Natural History presents the oldest known example in the fossil record of an evolutionary arms race. These 517-million-year-old predator-prey interactions occurred in the ocean covering what is now South Australia between a small, shelled animal distantly related to brachiopods and an unknown marine animal capable of piercing its shell.

In the solar system, Icy Worlds such as Europa and Enceladus hold great potential for extraterrestrial life and may provide humanity an answer, within this century, to the age-old question of life beyond Earth. Exo-AUV technology shows promise in life detection in the icy shell, at the ice-water interface and on the seafloor of Exo-ocean. Space agencies, including NASA and DLR, are enthusiastic about deploying Exo-AUVs to explore life in these regions. However, the where and how to find life, the technologies to be utilized and the goals to be achieved are crucial aspects for future Exo-AUV life detection missions on Icy Worlds. This study delves into a hypothetical mission of life detection on Europa, discussing science goals, detectable objects, potential regions and biogenic analysis for Icy Worlds. It proposes a life detection strategy for Icy Worlds based on Exo-AUVs, presents key contextual elements for Exo-AUV operations, outlines technological requirements for hull, payloads and autonomy, introduces the current state of Exo-AUV research and addresses existing challenges. This study also suggests a roadmap for conceptual development of Exo-AUV and a Concept of Operations for Multiple Exo-AUV System (ConOps for MEAS). This system aims to assist planetary scientists and astrobiologists in exploring Icy Worlds, identifying robust biosignatures and potentially discovering extant organisms, even prebiotic chemical systems.

An investigation published in National Science Review firstly presents comprehensive analysis for the spatiotemporal patterns and underlying drivers of compound low-solar-low-wind extremes over time across China. This research underscores the importance for nations engaging in progressive decarbonization to consider compound low-solar-low-wind extremes in renewable energy development and power sector planning, and proposes interregional renewable electricity transmission as a potential solution.