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Astronomers Discover Oldest Planetary Debris in Our Galaxy – Remnants of Destroyed Solar System

Artist’s impression of the old white dwarfs WDJ2147-4035 and WDJ1922+0233 surrounded by orbiting planetary debris, which will accrete onto the stars and pollute their atmospheres. WDJ2147-4035 is extremely red and dim, while WDJ1922+0233 is unusually blue. Credit: University of Warwick/Dr. Mark Garlick A new study puts an age to a faint white dwarf star of over ten billion years Engulfed remains of recently orbiting planetesimals make this the oldest dead star with an evolved planetary system Provides insight into the formation and evolution of asteroids, icy moons, and Earth-like rocky planets in the early history of the universe Astronomers…

Sustained Productivity: Farmers Move to High-Yielding, Cost-Saving Perennial Rice

Lead Image: The development of high-yielding perennial rice means up to eight harvests from a single planting, significantly lowering labor and cost for smallholder farmers while simultaneously improving soil quality. Researchers from the University of Illinois, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the International Rice Research Institute, Yunnan University, the University of Queensland, and the Land Institute contributed to the development and deployment of perennial rice. Credit: Photo provided by Shilai Zhang, Yunnan University Annual paddy rice is now available as a long-lived perennial after more than 9,000 years in cultivation. The advancement means farmers can plant just once and reap…

Skywatching Highlights: Beaver Moon, Total Lunar Eclipse, Meteor Showers

Lead Image: The Flower Moon lunar eclipse over NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans is shown from the initial partial eclipse to totality in a composite of seven images shot on Sunday, May 15, 2022. Credit: NASA/Michael DeMocker The Next Full Moon is the Beaver, Frost, Frosty, or Snow Moon; Kartik Purnima; the Karthika Deepam, Karthikai Vilakkidu, or Thrikarthika Festival Moon; the Loi Krathong Festival Moon; the Bon Om Touk (“Boat Racing Festival”) or Cambodian Water Festival Moon; the Tazaungdaing Festival Moon; and Ill (or Il) Poya. The next full Moon will be Tuesday morning, November 8, 2022, appearing…

NIST Breakthrough: Simple Material Could Scrub Carbon Dioxide From Power Plant Smokestacks

Lead Image: Exhaust from coal-fired power plants, at left, contain large quantities of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (purple tripartite molecules). Aluminum formate, a metal-organic framework whose structure is highlighted at right, can selectively capture carbon dioxide from dried flue gas conditions, potentially at a fraction of the cost of using other carbon filtration materials. Credit: B. Hayes / NIST Easily synthesized chemical filter could stop the greenhouse gas from reaching the atmosphere. How can carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, be removed from the exhaust of fossil fuel power plants before it ever enters the atmosphere? New research findings suggest…

A Plant From the USA Has Invaded Europe – How Did They Do It?

Lead Image: The plant, Ambrosia artemisiifolia (also known as ragweed), has already spread all the way to Denmark. In order to comprehend the spread of the invasive North American plant known as ragweed, researchers looked into its genes. One of the world’s biggest environmental issues is alien species. However, scientists often are unable to explain why or how these species are able to spread so rapidly. “Invasive species are a key factor in the crisis that is affecting biological diversity now,” says Michael D. Martin, professor of evolutionary genomics at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology’s (NTNU) University Museum. The…