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☆ Mysterious exploding craters started turning up in Siberia 10 years ago. Scientists say more are likely.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Jessica Orwig | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Tucked away in the frigid northern corner of Siberia are giant craters, some deep enough to fit a 15-story building. It's been fairly clear from the beginning that the craters are caused by some type of explosion deep underground. Researchers widely agreed that when these hydrates are damaged, they release methane gas, which is what's triggering the explosions in Siberia. AdvertisementMore exploding craters to comeSiberia will likely have more explosive craters in the coming years as global temperatures continue to warm. It's unclear exactly how much methane these explosions release, but in the grand scheme of climate change, they're a small matter.

Persons: It's, Ana Morgado, Morgado, Madeline Reinsel, Osomis Organizations: University of Cambridge, Business Locations: Siberia, Russia, Manhattan, Canada, It's

☆ Trump's new FCC pick is a win for Elon Musk
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Bryan Metzger | Jessica Orwig | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Carr is an ally of Elon Musk and has previously gone to bat for his company, Starlink. President-elect Donald Trump's nomination of Brendan Carr to chair the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) isn't just a win for conservative opponents of Big Tech. Elon Musk has transformed long-dormant industries, and he’s developed a first principles “production algorithm” to deliver results. In 2022, the FCC denied SpaceX nearly $886 million in government subsidies to provide satellite internet access in rural areas via the company's Starlink service. It's still proving itself as a viable internet service provider and is relatively expensive for the quality, CNN reported in August.

Persons: Trump, Brendan Carr, Carr, Elon Musk, Donald Trump's, isn't, It's, Musk, he’s, It’s, JySzEtCsyj — Brendan Carr, it's, —, Starlink, Trump's, Michael Romano, NTCA, Carr's, he's Organizations: Federal Communications Commission, Big Tech, Department of Government, Republican, Trump, GOP, Administrative State, Twitter, FCC, SpaceX, POLITICO, CNN, Senate Locations: Administrative, Brazil, American

☆ A 14-year-old's award-winning invention uses AI to detect pesticides on fruit and vegetables
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-05 | by ( Jessica Orwig | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A 14-year-old invented a handheld device that uses AI to detect pesticides on produce. It attaches to a smartphone and uses AI to detect the presence of certain pesticides on common produce. Courtesy of 3MTo use it, you download a phone app, point Pestiscand at the fruit or vegetable, and tap the scan button, Subash told Business Insider. Holger Leue/Getty ImagesEven though washing produce may not remove all pesticides, it's one of the best ways to reduce your exposure, de Montagnac said. She recommends washing for 15 to 60 seconds depending on the produce — for produce that typically contains a lot of pesticides, wash longer.

Persons: —, Subash, Subash wasn't, Gilles Benoit, Alexis Temkin, Benoit, Holger Leue, Montagnac, Temkin Organizations: Service, Business, Environmental Locations: EWG

Before-after-after photos show the destruction floodwaters wreaked on Spain's Valencia province. Satellite images show the scale of the floods, stretching from Alzira toward Valencia. Go to newsletter preferences Thanks for signing up! download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAt least 158 people were killed and more remain missing this week in flash floods after intense rainfall struck Spain's eastern province of Valencia on Tuesday.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, European Space Agency, Google Locations: Spain, Valencia, Alzira

☆ Hurricane Milton isn't the end of our destructive storm season. There's likely more to come.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-09 | by ( Jessica Orwig | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

AdvertisementThen hurricane season went quiet. There were no named storms between August 13 and September 3 — typically around when hurricane season is reaching its peak. CHANDAN KHANNA/Getty ImagesAt the start of the Atlantic hurricane season in June, NOAA predicted up to 13 hurricanes by the season's end. Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesThis year's unusual hurricane season may be a sign of things to come. AdvertisementRosencrans said that there's a large window for peak hurricane season, and the peak varies each year.

Persons: Milton, We've, Hurricane Milton, Hurricane Helene, Kelly Núñez Ocasio, What's, Debby, Ernesto, Hurricanes Helene, Niña, it's, Matthew Rosencrans, CHANDAN KHANNA, Rosencrans, Stephanie Zick, It's, Núñez Ocasio, Helene, Joe Raedle Organizations: NOAA, Service, Atlantic, Texas, University's Department, Atmospheric Sciences, Atmospheric Administration, Hurricanes, Colorado State University's Department of Atmospheric, Virginia Tech's Department of Geology Locations: Hurricane, Florida, Pacific, Florida's, Bend, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Hurricane Milton, Gulf, St, Petersburg , Florida

☆ Hurricane Milton morphed into a Category 5 in 2 days. Take a look at the storm's rapid evolution from space.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-08 | by ( Jessica Orwig | Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Hurricane Milton, now a Category 4, is expected to hit Florida's west coast Wednesday. Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified to a Category 5 storm on Monday, leading Florida Gov. AdvertisementNOAA's GOES-16 satellite is tracking Hurricane Milton from space. Hurricane Milton underwent an explosive intensification within 48 hours from a tropical storm to a Category 5. By Tuesday morning, Hurricane Milton had lost some of its strength and is now a Category 4.

Persons: Milton, —, Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Milton, Ron DeSantis, Hurricane Wilma, Hurricane Felix, Stephanie Zick, Zick, Matthew Rosencrans, that's, Rosencrans Organizations: Service, Florida Gov, National Hurricane Center, NOAA, Milton, Hurricane, Virginia Tech's Department of Geology, Astronauts, Space, Hurricane Milton, NHC Locations: Milton, Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane, Florida, Charlotte, Hillsborough, Manatee, Gulf, Mexico, Tampa, Tampa Bay

☆ A 20 year-old built a nuclear fusion prototype in his home for $2,000. Here's how he did it.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-25 | by ( Jessica Orwig | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The nuclear fusion prototype generates a glowing orb of plasma. Nuclear fusion reactors that can generate fusion are usually much larger, like this now-retired Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor at PPPL. It can't produce nuclear fusion, but it can achieve plasma, which is where nuclear fusion takes place and is a major step in the overall process. How Nazoordeen made his nuclear fusion prototype from scratchNazoordeen wasn't afraid to ask for help. Everything you need to make a nuclear fusion prototype can probably fit on your desk (banana included).

Persons: —, Nazoordeen, He'd, Claude, I'd, Nazoordeen Nazoordeen, Uber, Carlos Paz, wasn't, Paz, Soldan, Nazoordeen's, Hudhayfa, he's Organizations: Service, Business, University of Waterloo, PPPL . Princeton Plasma Physics, eBay, Columbia University Locations: PPPL

☆ NASA awarded $750,000 to a business that wants to feed astronauts fresh microgreens and insects
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-19 | by ( Jessica Orwig | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewNASA's Deep Space Food Challenge, launched in 2021, asked teams worldwide to develop a sustainable way to feed and nourish astronauts on long-duration space missions, including to Mars. The biotech company Interstellar Lab beat over 300 competing teams to receive NASA's $750,000 grand prize in August for its project NuCLEUS (NUtritional Closed-Loop Eco-Unit System). The software that controls the lighting, humidity, and temperature in each cube manipulates the environment to provide the optimal growing conditions for each plant's nutritional content. Interstellar Lab is launching one of its systems into space next yearPart of NASA's $750,000 award will go toward paying the team for their hard work. Interstellar LabWhile NuCLEUS was designed with NASA astronauts in mind, Belvisi said that Interstellar Lab is also working with private companies.

Persons: —, It's, Barbara Belvisi, Belvisi Organizations: Service, Interstellar Lab, Business, Lab, B12, Lab's, NASA

☆ The 2024 harvest moon is the 2nd supermoon and last lunar eclipse this year. Here's the best time to see it when it rises Tuesday.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-15 | by ( Jenny Mcgrath | Jessica Orwig | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The best time to watch the super harvest moon and partial lunar eclipseThe harvest moon is the full moon that occurs nearest to the first day of autumn. AdvertisementThe best time to catch any full moon, including the harvest moon, is right around moonrise. A full moon, also a harvest moon, rises past thunder clouds. Tuesday's partial eclipse is the last lunar eclipse of the year. The harvest moon is the second supermoon of 2024If the full moon looks larger than normal, that's because it is.

Persons: —, you'll, Mike Blake That's, moonrise, Noah Petro, Marcos del Mazo, Larry Wasserman Organizations: Service, Business, NASA, Chicago, Houston, Goddard Space Flight, Lowell Observatory, Anadolu Locations: moonrise, New York, Los Angeles, North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Arizona

☆ I ran over 100 miles through Death Valley in record heat after recovering from chemo — here's what it was like
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-22 | by ( Jessica Orwig | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Ray Zahab ran over 105 miles through California's Death Valley during its hottest month on record. Zahab has traversed over 10,000 miles across Earth's deserts but said this trip was personal. Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest on the culture & business of sustainability — delivered weekly to your inbox. July was the hottest month in Death Valley National Park's recorded history. It's also when I ran over 100 miles through the scorching desert heat.

Persons: Ray Zahab, It's Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Death

☆ I'm a scientist who moved to Lithuania from the US. I am less stressed and my work-life balance is so much better that I don't consider moving back any time soon.
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-10 | by ( Jessica Orwig | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Stephen Knox Jones Jr., a 37-year-old scientist who lives in Vilnius, Lithuania. Here, people recognize the value of having time away from work for well-being — and now I don't feel guilty anymore when I take time off. Jones Jr. thinks the quality of his research is better because he's less stressed and has more head space to dedicate to his work. That's why I think the quality of my research is better in Lithuania than it might be in the US. Jones Jr.'s quality of research is important to him because of his strong desire to contribute to humanity's advancement.

Persons: —, Stephen Knox Jones Jr, It's, there's, that's, I've, Jones, it's, Stephen, Jessica Orwig Organizations: Service, Business, Molecular Biology Laboratories, Jobs Locations: Vilnius, Lithuania, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Texas, After Texas, Europe, jorwig@businessinsider.com

☆ How to see a double meteor shower on Tuesday night with a chance of fireballs
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Jessica Orwig | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Where to see this week's double meteor shower in the USMeteors are named after the constellations they appear to radiate from. A double meteor shower worth checking outNick Moskovitz took this composite image of the Perseids meteor shower in 2023. But together, the double meteor shower offers a better chance to see two very different types of meteors on the same night. In the case of this double meteor shower, "the thing that's a little bit unusual here is that there happened to be two streams in space that are so close to one another that we see them as sort of a double meteor shower. AdvertisementAs far as meteor showers go, this double event happening tomorrow evening is one of the better ones to enjoy.

Persons: —, Nick Moskovitz, Moskovitz Organizations: Service, Southern Delta, Alpha, Lowell Observatory, Business, US Meteors, Allexxandar, Southern, Global Meteor Network Locations: Southern, Arizona, Northern

☆ Video showed a humpback whale smashing into and capsizing a boat. Biologists say the whale was likely just feeding.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | Jessica Orwig | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewA fishing boat about a mile off the coast of New Hampshire capsized on Tuesday after a humpback whale came out of the water and smashed into it, according to video of the incident. "So no attack by the humpback whale, just an unfortunate accident for both the whale and fisherman," he said, adding the whale may not have even realized the boat was there. Smith, who studies humpback whale behavior, said lunging for fish is a very common behavior for the species. AdvertisementAs for the humpback in the video, the whale may have been injured when it crashed into the boat. Vessel collisions remain a threat to humpback whales, though typically, strikes by larger ships pose the greatest risk.

Persons: —, Andrew Trites, Trites, Melanie Smith, Smith, WCVB Organizations: Service, New Hampshire, Business, Marine Mammal Research, University of British, University of New Locations: New, University of British Columbia, University of New Hampshire

☆ SpaceX is building a superpowered spaceship to scrap the International Space Station for NASA
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-17 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | Jessica Orwig | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

NASA and SpaceX unveiled more details about how they plan to deorbit the ISS in the early 2030s. SpaceX aims to use one of its existing Dragon spaceships to push the ISS toward its grave. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementThe International Space Station has been a haven for hundreds of astronauts over the last 23 years. In June, NASA announced it would pay Elon Musk's company SpaceX up to $843 million to help decommission the ISS.

Persons: — Organizations: NASA, SpaceX, Service, Elon, Business

☆ Scientists found an underground cave on the moon where astronauts could live and think there may be hundreds more
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-16 | by ( Jessica Orwig | Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The team speculates that, given how they think this cave formed, there could be hundreds more hidden under the lunar surface. AdvertisementTo the moon cave and beyondExploring caves on the moon could offer a plethora of scientific data and resources for future space missions. There's also a chance that moon caves harbor water, a crucial resource for any future moon bases. Access to lunar water is key to NASA's plans to establish a permanent base on the moon and, eventually, use it to hopscotch astronauts to Mars. Bruzzone and his coauthors also noted that caves and lava tubes of different ages might act like fossilized records of the moon's history.

Persons: —, Leonardo Carrer, Lorenzo Bruzzone, Wes Patterson, NASA's LRO, Tranquillitatis, Patterson, Caspar Benson, There's, Bruzzone Organizations: Service, University of Trento, Associated Press, Business, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, NASA, Arizona State, Reconnaissance, Getty, Australian Broadcasting Corporation Locations: American, Hawaii

☆ Scientists studied 1,200 cats to determine why they scratch up furniture and how to stop it
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-05 | by ( Ellyn Lapointe | Jessica Orwig | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Dr. Andrea Sanchez, a veterinarian at Banfield Pet Hospital, previously told Business Insider that cats scratch to communicate, stretch and condition their claws, and claim possessions. But if you really want your cat to stop scratching up your couch and chairs, it's worth knowing the exact reason they're doing it in the first place. How to stop cats from scratching up your furnitureStressed-out cats can wreak havoc on your furniture and other household items. Magui-rfajardo/Getty ImagesIf your cat won't stop scratching up your furniture, there are things you can do to curb the behavior, the researchers found. Observing your cat's scratching behavior can help you figure out what type of scratching post is best for them.

Persons: —, Andrea Sanchez, they're, Larisa Tyushova, Nico De Pasquale, Quagliozzi Organizations: Service, Banfield Pet Hospital, Business, Veterinary Science Locations: France

☆ Earth's inner core reversed direction and is slowing down, and scientists don't know why
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-02 | by ( Jessica Orwig | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Below your feet, about 3,400 miles down, is Earth's inner core. The data implies that in 2010, the inner core reversed its rotational direction compared to the Earth's surface — a phenomenon called backtracking. Now, the inner core is rotating more slowly than before the shift. Related storiesBut a recent study offers a new way of looking at the data that could help settle the debate. Proving the inner core is backtrackingJohn Vidale is part of the new research that offers more evidence to the notion that the inner core is backtracking.

Persons: aren't, It's, John Vidale, Stephen Gee, Vidale Organizations: Service, Business, University of Southern, USC Locations: University of Southern California, South Sandwich Islands

☆ A new carbon removal plant will absorb carbon dioxide 99,000 times faster than Earth's oceans
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-26 | by ( Ellyn Lapointe | Jessica Orwig | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewThe oceans are our planet's largest carbon sink, naturally absorbing about 25% of the carbon dioxide that humans emit. Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) companies like Equatic are trying to harness that natural process to absorb even more. On June 18, Equatic announced it started engineering designs for the world's first commercial-scale, ocean-based CDR plant, Sanders said. The plant could remove carbon dioxide at a rate that's 99,000 times as fast as the oceans. Questions remain about CDR's economic and environmental impactAs ocean-based CDR technology scales up, concerns grow over its environmental impact.

Persons: —, Edward Sanders, Equatic, Sanders, Grace, Weiquan Lin, we're, Sergii Petruk, Jessica Cross, Cross Organizations: Service, Business, National Academies of Science, Engineering, Companies, Boeing, Equatic, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Locations: LA, Singapore

☆ NASA is putting an 'artificial star' in orbit around Earth
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Jessica Orwig | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

NASA recently approved the $19.5 million Landolt Space Mission to launch the mini satellite into Earth's orbit. AdvertisementA revolutionary new tool for astronomersLandolt, which is about the size of a bread box, is designed to fire lasers at observatories on Earth to help astronomers study the stars. Related storiesWhat makes this "artificial star" better than a real one is that astronomers will know exactly how much light it's emitting. Landolt can help astronomers catch minute details they've otherwise been missing in the data. How Landolt could revolutionize astronomyAstronomers are excited that Landolt could help them find more Earth-like exoplanets that might harbor life.

Persons: —, Tyler Richey, Eliad Peretz, unquote, Richey, Arlo Landolt, Yowell Organizations: Service, Business, NASA, Lowell Observatory, Yowell Locations: Richey

☆ Scientists finally think they know why giraffe necks are so long
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Jessica Orwig | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In the 19th century, Charles Darwin and Jean Baptiste Lamarck suggested that giraffes evolved long necks to help them snatch leaves on trees. A later theory usurped Darwin and Lamarck's, suggesting that male giraffes evolved long necks to fight and compete for female mates. "I realized that the important question was, 'Do males have proportionally longer necks compared to the rest of their body?'" Cavener said this may be the first study to suggest that females, not males, are the reason for giraffes' long necks. That's important not only for understanding giraffe evolution but how male and female giraffes behave differently, which could help with conservation efforts.

Persons: —, Charles Darwin, Jean Baptiste Lamarck, Darwin, Lamarck, Douglas Cavener, wasn't, Cavener, Art Wolfe, Zoe Raw, Raw Organizations: Service, Business, Biology, Penn State, International Union for Conservation Locations: Tanzania, Kenya, East Africa, Darwin, bushmeat

☆ A mysterious hole on Mars could be a jackpot of scientific discoveries, from extraterrestrial life to where astronauts could live
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Ellyn Lapointe | Jessica Orwig | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

But there is a possibility that residual underground lava tubes may still exist. HUM Images/Getty ImagesIf these lava tubes are anything like Earth's, they could be the perfect place for astronauts to hunker down during their stay on Mars. It's unclear if lava tubes on Mars would also be this warm — it's not a stretch to imagine, just a challenge to confirm. But to be clear, just because there could be life in these pits, doesn't mean Mars definitely hosts extraterrestrials. "This is a good place to look, but we don't know if there's life on Mars at all," Johnson said.

Persons: —, Brandon Johnson, Johnson, George Rose, Ross Beyer, Beyer, there's, it's Organizations: Service, University of Arizona, Business, NASA, JPL, Scientists, Purdue University, Olympus, SETI Institute, Goddard, Arizona State University, Reconnaissance Locations: Arizona, Tharsis, Hawaii

Mexico City may run out of drinking water by the end of this month. Often, the problem lies in how the water is managed rather than how much is available. Experts predict that the city of 8.8 million people could run out of drinking water this month. But Mexico City is not the first city with a water crisis and it won't be the last. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: what's Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Mexico

☆ Boeing's long-delayed Starliner finally takes off with astronauts on board
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Jessica Orwig | Paul Squire | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Boeing launched its Starliner spacecraft carrying two astronauts to the International Space Station. Boeing's spacecraft would give NASA a second option for human transport to space. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementOn Wednesday morning, Boeing's Starliner launched toward the International Space Station carrying NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. It was the first crewed mission for the commercial spacecraft, which has been plagued by delays due to technical concerns.

Persons: —, Boeing's Starliner, Butch Wilmore, Suni Williams Organizations: Boeing, International Space, NASA, Service, Space Station, Business

☆ NASA's Webb Space Telescope discovered 3 rare galaxies that can help astronomers study the cosmic dark ages
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Lloyd Lee | Jessica Orwig | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewNASA's James Webb Space Telescope has detected three galaxies as they were likely forming during the universe's infancy, the space agency said Thursday. And it's all thanks to the tremendous observing power of the James Webb Telescope. AdvertisementThe James Webb Space Telescope helps astronomers study the very early universe. The Cosmic Dark AgesJames Webb Space Telescope has revealed 45,000 galaxies in this image, hundreds of which have never been seen until now. Astronomers study the Era of Reionization to understand the very early moments in our universe when galaxies and stars first formed and how.

Persons: —, James Webb, Webb, Kasper Heintz, NASA Heintz, Brant Robertson, Ben Johnson, Sandro Tacchella, Marcia Rieke, Daniel Eisenstein, Heintz Organizations: Service, NASA, Business, James Webb Telescope, University of Copenhagen, James Webb Space Telescope, ESA, CSA, UC, UC Santa Cruz, CfA, University of Arizona Locations: Denmark, UC Santa, Cambridge

☆ Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin is about to fly people to space for the first time in 2 years. Here's why it took so long.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Jessica Orwig | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewJeff Bezos' private space company, Blue Origin, recently announced its plans to launch a crew of six aboard its New Shepard rocket this Sunday. Still, late last year, Jeff Bezos told Lex Fridman on Fridman's podcast that "Blue Origin needs to be much faster." About one minute into the flight, Blue Origin lost the first-stage booster due to a faulty nozzle in the booster's engine. Blue OriginVirgin Galactic and Blue Origin are both in the suborbital space tourism business. Bezos says Blue Origin's culture isn't fast enoughJeff Bezos founded Blue Origin in 2000.

Persons: —, Jeff Bezos, Sara Sabry, Lex Fridman, Shepard, New Shepard, That's, ULA, Ted S, Warren, Bezos, Fridman Organizations: Service, Shepard, Business, Virgin Galactic, SpaceX, Origin, Federal Aviation Administration, Italian Air Force, Virgin, Glenn, United Launch Alliance, Rocket, NASA, US Space Force, AP Locations: Texas, New, Glenn, ULA

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