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Planet - Blog Posts
Quizás, vuelva a ser yo.
A week without you, starman.
I concur, click the Keep Reading.
We are just as much a part of nature and the planet Earth as any other creature. This concept that we can “conquer nature” doesn’t really make any sense, since we are nature too.
humans are an essential part of the ecosystem. nearly every ecosystem on earth had humans as an essential part of its function. the earth would be worse off than before if we were gone suddenly overnight. send tweet
I find it ironic that Earth sounds like an alien spaceship. I wonder how much of that sound is just the wind and atmosphere, or if perhaps it’s possible we can hear humanity as well.
Something I thought of while staring into space
Everyone looks up at the night sky and go “Oh look at all the pretty stars!” and “It sure is beautiful” and all the usual phrases. And I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that; they’re right, it is beautiful
But what about the details? What about the things they can’t see, masked by the intense glare of the universe’s light bulbs? Stars take all the credit, sprinkling the sky with light, but what about the planets that orbit them? No one ever talks about the planets, that no one sees or cares about because they’re so busy looking at the stars. Millions of planets, each one unique and different from every other planet, hurtling through space at a breakneck speed. Some are ice cold and barren, some are boiling hot, some are giant balls of gas pretending to be suns, and some might even have just the right conditions for life. Who knows?
Everyone looks up at the night sky and praises the stars for their light. But who remembers the planets, hiding in the shadows, being different from everyone else?
If you’re upset or depressed that everyone around you is hogging the spotlight, don’t worry. All those famous people? They’re bright and beautiful and interesting, sure. But they’re all the same. Stars aren’t as varied as the planets. Each planet has a different story, different appearance, different climate. It’s the people in the shadows, hidden in the crowd and by their anonymity, that are really, truly unique. Those are the people I’m interested in learning about.
A little food web for the Star Wars planet I’m creating. I was trying to figure out what the keystone species would be and this was the easiest way I could think of.
Silvogitan is the major river of the planet, and the Briloskes are the glowing forests that make up the majority of the terrain.
Note: not all creatures (including the freshwater lake ecosystem) are included here
Sustainable Accommodations: Best Eco-Lodges and Hotels Worldwide
The way we travel has a profound impact on the planet. One of the best ways to reduce your environmental footprint is by choosing accommodations that prioritize sustainability. Thankfully, eco-lodges and green hotels around the world are leading the charge in eco-conscious hospitality. From lush rainforests to urban oases, here’s a guide to some of the best sustainable stays that promise comfort, luxury, and care for the environment.
1. Soneva Fushi – Maldives
Nestled in the Maldives, Soneva Fushi is a luxurious eco-resort that blends seamlessly with its natural surroundings. The resort is powered by solar energy and features a world-class waste management system. Guests can indulge in stunning overwater villas, dine at zero-waste restaurants, and snorkel in crystal-clear waters, knowing their stay supports sustainability.
2. Fogo Island Inn – Canada
Located on a remote island off Newfoundland, Fogo Island Inn is an architectural gem committed to sustainability. This eco-conscious retreat uses locally sourced materials, supports the island’s economy, and reinvests its profits into the community. With breathtaking ocean views, a cozy Nordic aesthetic, and locally inspired cuisine, it’s a haven for eco-conscious travelers.
3. Treehotel – Sweden
If you’ve ever dreamed of sleeping in a treehouse, Treehotel in Sweden is the place for you. Each uniquely designed cabin is suspended among the trees, offering stunning views of the Swedish forest. The hotel operates with a minimal environmental footprint, using renewable energy and sustainable building materials.
4. Grootbos Private Nature Reserve – South Africa
For those seeking a safari experience with a sustainable twist, Grootbos Private Nature Reserve in South Africa is a must-visit. This eco-lodge supports local conservation efforts and community programs while offering luxurious accommodations. Explore fynbos-covered landscapes, go on guided nature walks, or enjoy fine dining with farm-to-table ingredients.
5. Hoshinoya Karuizawa – Japan
Located in a tranquil forest in Japan, Hoshinoya Karuizawa is a resort that exemplifies harmony with nature. Powered by geothermal energy, the resort offers serene hot springs, minimalist Japanese architecture, and locally sourced cuisine. It’s the perfect blend of luxury and sustainability.
6. Whitepod Eco-Luxury Hotel – Switzerland
Nestled in the Swiss Alps, Whitepod Eco-Luxury Hotel offers a unique glamping experience in geodesic domes. The pods are energy-efficient and designed to minimize their impact on the environment. Guests can enjoy stunning alpine views, hike through pristine trails, and embrace the beauty of the mountains.
7. El Nido Resorts – Philippines
El Nido Resorts in Palawan is a stunning example of sustainable tourism. Surrounded by turquoise waters and lush jungles, the resort operates with solar energy, marine conservation programs, and eco-friendly designs. Guests can enjoy snorkeling, kayaking, and exploring hidden lagoons, all while preserving the natural beauty of the Philippines.
8. Lapa Rios Lodge – Costa Rica
Lapa Rios Lodge is a true eco-tourism pioneer, set in the heart of Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula. This lodge protects over 1,000 acres of rainforest, supports local communities, and uses sustainable practices in its operations. Guests can immerse themselves in the wild beauty of Costa Rica while enjoying eco-luxury at its finest.
9. Camp Glenorchy – New Zealand
Located near Queenstown, Camp Glenorchy is New Zealand’s first net-zero energy retreat. It incorporates sustainable building practices, solar power, and rainwater collection systems. Guests can enjoy cozy accommodations, stunning mountain views, and a deep sense of connection with nature.
10. Six Senses Ninh Van Bay – Vietnam
Six Senses resorts are known for their commitment to sustainability, and Ninh Van Bay is no exception. Perched on a remote bay in Vietnam, this resort combines luxury with eco-consciousness. From farm-to-table dining to marine conservation programs, it offers an indulgent yet environmentally friendly escape.
Why Choose Sustainable Accommodations?
Staying in eco-friendly accommodations doesn’t just enhance your travel experience—it helps protect the planet. These lodges and hotels prioritize energy efficiency, reduce waste, support local communities, and often reinvest in conservation programs. By choosing these options, you contribute to sustainable tourism and ensure that future generations can enjoy these incredible destinations.
Another life Another Planet
All the books, Bible, Torah and eventually the Quran, have been sent from only one God. Since the Bible and the Torah have been changed and distorted by humans, the Quran was sent. On the day of judgment, you will be questioned on the Book of the Quran
Creatures of the Open Ocean
A few species profiles out of the many inhabitants of the oceans of Veteris.
Brand new website!
Check out Exobiotica.com for all your weird alien needs. Get prints, read new content, and go in-depth into the project. Enjoy!
Kings of the High Desert
A herd of strange creatures has congregated on this rocky outcrop. Known as Emperor Shinebacks, they often climb these rugged foothills to obtain access to cooling breezes and additional food sources. Their top-heavy tripodal stature prevents further ascension into the mountains, but it serves them well on more level ground. Reflective carapaces mitigate much of the sun’s harmful rays, and cooling flaps along their flanks dissipate excess heat. A shineback’s normal gait is rather clumsy, but when haste is needed they clamp all three legs together into a single monopod and bounce effortlessly across the desert at remarkably high speeds. This combined with their massive size (adults are over eight feet tall) and protective social behavior makes them almost impervious to attack. Almost…
Codependence
Natural selection breeds competition, but it can also lead to sophisticated cooperation. The Glass Colligatio is what is known as a composite organism—a creature comprised of members of multiple species that share critical biological processes between them. The larger swimmer provides mobility, while its multi-legged symbiont feeds more efficiently than it could alone. Through the interspecies junction—a specialized dual orifice connecting the creatures—they share nutrients and oxygen, each specializing in what it does best while providing for the needs of the whole.
A Universe Below
Almost no sunlight penetrates the thick canopy of the glow forest. As a result, organisms in this ancient biome have evolved a massive array of survival strategies using bioluminescence. Some emit light to attract mates or warn against predators. And some, strangely, illuminate themselves in order to be eaten.
Full of Stars
The season's storms had taken their toll, opening up an organic cave in the otherwise sealed mountain canopy forest. Encouraged by the prospect of shelter from more incoming inclement weather, the dacia considers entering the dark, yet inviting refuge. The glittering biolights beckon, but this new environment is far stranger than anything it’s ever known.
Life in the Low Forest
A relatively dry and sunny climate favors some types of forest over others. The tangled matrix of the fast-growing tube carpet forms the floor along the majority of this habitat. It grows so quickly that other species of photosynthetic creatures find it advantageous to be more mobile, lest they be crowded out and overtaken. The scarcity of water combined with the tendency towards mobility versus upward growth means this forest is relatively short in height - hence its name. There is a rich and varied food web here, with many organisms feeding on the tube carpet, keeping its ravenous growth in check. It also offers a complex labyrinth in which to hide from the many predators working tirelessly for their next meal.
Life in the Dark
In the murky blackness of the deep sea, creatures are spread out over immense distances. To find each other, many use biologically-generated light. But what appears to be a potential mate might instead be a lurking predator.
Pelagic predator pen sketch. More on this soon.
Forest Floor
The long tendrils of the Purple Spire Creeper encircle this forest community deep in the valley. Following its traditional hunting path by the river, the predatory Veloxos has spotted its prey – a Dish-Faced Septaped that emerged from the undergrowth for a drink. The Septaped’s teal, reflective surface camouflages it well in its dimly-lit damp home on the forest floor, but now out in the open it appears as a shining beacon. After this brief instant of mutual acknowledgment, the race begins. The Veloxos’ three powerful hydraulic legs can propel it with surprising swiftness to get it within striking range of its harpoon-like proboscis, which extends almost instantaneously to the full length of its body. The Septaped is a formidable quarry. Though it possesses no defensive mechanisms, the seven muscular legs aligning its body can nearly teleport it back to its shady lair - where it will become lost in the shadows. The perpetual arms-race of natural selection continues daily all across the planet with countless moments such as this.
Veteris-42820 C
Finally a planet to house (most of) the creatures I've designed so far. A terrestrial planet with about 2/3 the mass of Earth, it orbits its K-type star, Veteris, within the habitable zone. This system is around 8 billion years old - about twice that of ours, hence the name Veteris, which is Latin for "old". It sits at the outskirts of the nebula behind it, which will still be busy birthing star systems for billions of years to come. Veteris is a good analog for earth- it has a similar chemical composition (including its atmosphere, which is slightly more dense - at about 1.5 atm) so it's a good place to begin our journey.
Monolith
The seasonal rains have come to the high desert. Among the first to respond is the monolith. It sends out hose-like tendrils to siphon water and turns on its biolights to attract flying symbionts.
The Challenger
A new competitor has entered the misty valley. Attracted by ample food supply, the hopeful newcomer will have to contend with the reigning resident of this territory. In times of scarcity, populations begrudgingly coexist in shrinking pockets of such favorable habitat, but rain and sun have been plentiful lately, so a battle seems imminent.
It will soon be 25 hours in a day because the moon is slowly getting farther and farther away from earth
Every February 2, we wonder if Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow.
In Saturn’s case, astronomers know some of Saturn’s moons will cast shadows across the planet’s iconic rings every 15 years. This effect only occurs when the planet’s rings are perpendicular to the Sun. The next time this will happen is in May 2025.
Watch as four of Saturn’s moons orbit the planet, based on images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope over a 9.5-hour span in 1995. Enceladus is first and Mimas is close behind. Both of these moons cast small shadows on Saturn, but among the two, only Enceladus’ shadow cuts across the rings. Dione follows next and casts a long shadow across the planet’s rings. About 12 seconds in, the moon Tethys moves swiftly behind the planet toward the right.
Credit: NASA/ESA/STScI.
Sharpening Our View of Climate Change with the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem Satellite
As our planet warms, Earth’s ocean and atmosphere are changing.
Climate change has a lot of impact on the ocean, from sea level rise to marine heat waves to a loss of biodiversity. Meanwhile, greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide continue to warm our atmosphere.
NASA’s upcoming satellite, PACE, is soon to be on the case!
Set to launch on Feb. 6, 2024, the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission will help us better understand the complex systems driving the global changes that come with a warming climate.
Earth’s ocean is becoming greener due to climate change. PACE will see the ocean in more hues than ever before.
While a single phytoplankton typically can’t be seen with the naked eye, communities of trillions of phytoplankton, called blooms, can be seen from space. Blooms often take on a greenish tinge due to the pigments that phytoplankton (similar to plants on land) use to make energy through photosynthesis.
In a 2023 study, scientists found that portions of the ocean had turned greener because there were more chlorophyll-carrying phytoplankton. PACE has a hyperspectral sensor, the Ocean Color Instrument (OCI), that will be able to discern subtle shifts in hue. This will allow scientists to monitor changes in phytoplankton communities and ocean health overall due to climate change.
Phytoplankton play a key role in helping the ocean absorb carbon from the atmosphere. PACE will identify different phytoplankton species from space.
With PACE, scientists will be able to tell what phytoplankton communities are present – from space! Before, this could only be done by analyzing a sample of seawater.
Telling “who’s who” in a phytoplankton bloom is key because different phytoplankton play vastly different roles in aquatic ecosystems. They can fuel the food chain and draw down carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to photosynthesize. Some phytoplankton populations capture carbon as they die and sink to the deep ocean; others release the gas back into the atmosphere as they decay near the surface.
Studying these teeny tiny critters from space will help scientists learn how and where phytoplankton are affected by climate change, and how changes in these communities may affect other creatures and ocean ecosystems.
Climate models are one of our most powerful tools to understand how Earth is changing. PACE data will improve the data these models rely on.
The PACE mission will offer important insights on airborne particles of sea salt, smoke, human-made pollutants, and dust – collectively called aerosols – by observing how they interact with light.
With two instruments called polarimeters, SPEXone and HARP2, PACE will allow scientists to measure the size, composition, and abundance of these microscopic particles in our atmosphere. This information is crucial to figuring out how climate and air quality are changing.
PACE data will help scientists answer key climate questions, like how aerosols affect cloud formation or how ice clouds and liquid clouds differ.
It will also enable scientists to examine one of the trickiest components of climate change to model: how clouds and aerosols interact. Once PACE is operational, scientists can replace the estimates currently used to fill data gaps in climate models with measurements from the new satellite.
With a view of the whole planet every two days, PACE will track both microscopic organisms in the ocean and microscopic particles in the atmosphere. PACE’s unique view will help us learn more about the ways climate change is impacting our planet’s ocean and atmosphere.
Stay up to date on the NASA PACE blog, and make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of sPACE!
Six Answers to Questions You’re Too Embarrassed to Ask about the Hottest Year on Record
You may have seen the news that 2023 was the hottest year in NASA’s record, continuing a trend of warming global temperatures. But have you ever wondered what in the world that actually means and how we know?
We talked to some of our climate scientists to get clarity on what a temperature record is, what happened in 2023, and what we can expect to happen in the future… so you don’t have to!
1. Why was 2023 the warmest year on record?
The short answer: Human activities. The release of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere trap more heat near Earth’s surface, raising global temperatures. This is responsible for the decades-long warming trend we’re living through.
But this year’s record wasn’t just because of human activities. The last few years, we’ve been experiencing the cooler phase of a natural pattern of Pacific Ocean temperatures called the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). This phase, known as La Niña, tends to cool temperatures slightly around the world. In mid-2023, we started to shift into the warmer phase, known as El Niño. The shift ENSO brought, combined with overall human-driven warming and other factors we’re continuing to study, pushed 2023 to a new record high temperature.
2. So will every year be a record now?
Almost certainly not. Although the overall trend in annual temperatures is warmer, there’s some year-to-year variation, like ENSO we mentioned above.
Think about Texas and Minnesota. On the whole, Texas is warmer than Minnesota. But some days, stormy weather could bring cooler temperatures to Texas while Minnesota is suffering through a local heat wave. On those days, the weather in Minnesota could be warmer than the weather in Texas. That doesn’t mean Minnesota is warmer than Texas overall; we’re just experiencing a little short-term variation.
Something similar happens with global annual temperatures. The globe will naturally shift back to La Niña in the next few years, bringing a slight cooling effect. Because of human carbon emissions, current La Niña years will be warmer than La Niña years were in the past, but they’ll likely still be cooler than current El Niño years.
3. What do we mean by “on record”?
Technically, NASA’s global temperature record starts in 1880. NASA didn’t exist back then, but temperature data were being collected by sailing ships, weather stations, and scientists in enough places around the world to reconstruct a global average temperature. We use those data and our modern techniques to calculate the average.
We start in 1880, because that’s when thermometers and other instruments became technologically advanced and widespread enough to reliably measure and calculate a global average. Today, we make those calculations based on millions of measurements taken from weather stations and Antarctic research stations on land, and ships and ocean buoys at sea. So, we can confidently say 2023 is the warmest year in the last century and a half.
However, we actually have a really good idea of what global climate looked like for tens of thousands of years before 1880, relying on other, indirect ways of measuring temperature. We can look at tree rings or cores drilled from ice sheets to reconstruct Earth’s more ancient climate. These measurements affirm that current warming on Earth is happening at an unprecedented speed.
4. Why does a space agency keep a record of Earth’s temperature?
It’s literally our job! When NASA was formed in 1958, our original charter called for “the expansion of human knowledge of phenomena in the atmosphere and space.” Our very first space missions uncovered surprises about Earth, and we’ve been using the vantage point of space to study our home planet ever since. Right now, we have a fleet of more than 20 spacecraft monitoring Earth and its systems.
Why we created our specific surface temperature record – known as GISTEMP – actually starts about 25 million miles away on the planet Venus. In the 1960s and 70s, researchers discovered that a thick atmosphere of clouds and carbon dioxide was responsible for Venus’ scorchingly hot temperatures.
Dr. James Hansen was a scientist at the Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York, studying Venus. He realized that the greenhouse effect cooking Venus’ surface could happen on Earth, too, especially as human activities were pumping carbon dioxide into our atmosphere.
He started creating computer models to see what would happen to Earth’s climate as more carbon dioxide entered the atmosphere. As he did, he needed a way to check his models – a record of temperatures at Earth’s surface over time, to see if the planet was indeed warming along with increased atmospheric carbon. It was, and is, and NASA’s temperature record was born.
5. If last year was record hot, why wasn’t it very hot where I live?
The temperature record is a global average, so not everywhere on Earth experienced record heat. Local differences in weather patterns can influence individual locations to be hotter or colder than the globe overall, but when we average it out, 2023 was the hottest year.
Just because you didn’t feel record heat this year, doesn’t mean you didn’t experience the effects of a warming climate. 2023 saw a busy Atlantic hurricane season, low Arctic sea ice, raging wildfires in Canada, heat waves in the U.S. and Australia, and more.
And these effects don’t stay in one place. For example, unusually hot and intense fires in Canada sent smoke swirling across the entire North American continent, triggering some of the worst air quality in decades in many American cities. Melting ice at Earth’s poles drives rising sea levels on coasts thousands of miles away.
6. Speaking of which, why is the Arctic – one of the coldest places on Earth – red on this temperature map?
Our global temperature record doesn’t actually track absolute temperatures. Instead, we track temperature anomalies, which are basically just deviations from the norm. Our baseline is an average of the temperatures from 1951-1980, and we compare how much Earth’s temperature has changed since then.
Why focus on anomalies, rather than absolutes? Let’s say you want to track if apples these days are generally larger, smaller, or the same size as they were 20 years ago. In other words, you want to track the change over time.
Apples grown in Florida are generally larger than apples grown in Alaska. Like, in real life, how Floridian temperatures are generally much higher than Alaskan temperatures. So how do you track the change in apple sizes from apples grown all over the world while still accounting for their different baseline weights?
By focusing on the difference within each area rather than the absolute weights. So in our map, the Arctic isn’t red because it’s hotter than Bermuda. It’s red because it’s gotten relatively much warmer than Bermuda has in the same time frame.
Want to learn more about climate change? Dig into the data at climate.nasa.gov.
Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space!
Uranus and some of its moons on October 20, 2023 // Louis Fico
I think the moons in this image could be Titania, Umbriel, Ariel, and Oberon, tho which points of light they are is hard to say