Latest news with #Celsius
eNCA
42 minutes ago
- Science
- eNCA
How did life survive 'Snowball Earth'? In ponds, study suggests
Earth has not always been so hospitable to live. During several ice ages, the planet's surface was almost completely frozen over, creating what has been dubbed "Snowball Earth". Liquid water appears to be the most important ingredient for life on any planet, raising the question: how did anything survive such frosty, brutal times? A group of scientists said Thursday that they had found an astonishing diversity of micro-organisms in tiny pools of melted ice in Antarctica, suggesting that life could have ridden out Snowball Earth in similar ponds. During the Cryogenian Period between 635 and 720 million years ago, the average global temperature did not rise above -50 degrees Celsius (-58 Fahrenheit). The climate near the equator at the time resembled modern-day Antarctica. Yet even in such extreme conditions, life found a way to keep evolving. Fatima Husain, the lead author of a new study published in Nature Communications, told AFP there was evidence of complex life forms "before and after the Cryogenian in the fossil record". "There are multiple hypotheses regarding possible places life may have persisted," said Husain, a graduate student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Perhaps it found shelter in patches of open ocean, or in deep-sea hydrothermal vents, or under vast sheets of ice. The tiny melted ice pools that dotted the equator were another proposed refuge. These ponds could have been oases for eukaryotes, complex organisms that eventually evolved into multicellular life forms that would rise to dominate Earth, including humans. - Could aliens be hiding in ponds? - Melted ice ponds still exist today in Antarctica, at the edges of ice sheets. In 2018, members of a New Zealand research team visited the McMurdo ice shelf in east Antarctica, home to several such pools, which are only a few metres wide and less a metre deep. The bottom of the ponds are lined with a mat of microbes that have accumulated over the years to form slimy layers. "These mats can be a few centimetres thick, colourful, and they can be very clearly layered," Husain said. They are made up of single-celled organisms called cyanobacteria that are known to be able to survive extreme conditions. But the researchers also found signs indicating there were eukaryotes such as algae or microscopic animals. This suggests there was surprising diversity in the ponds, which appears to have been influenced by the amount of salt each contained. "No two ponds were alike," Husain said. "We found diverse assemblages of eukaryotes from all the major groups in all the ponds studied." "They demonstrate that these unique environments are capable of sheltering diverse assemblages of life, even in close proximity," she added. This could have implications in the search for extraterrestrial life. "Studies of life within these special environments on Earth can help inform our understanding of potential habitable environments on icy worlds, including icy moons in our Solar System," Husain said. Saturn's moon Enceladus and Jupiter's Europa are covered in ice, but scientists increasingly suspect they could be home to simple forms of life, and several space missions have been launched to find out more about them. By Bénédicte Rey
NDTV
43 minutes ago
- Science
- NDTV
Rise In Greenhouse Gas Release Causing More Extreme Weather, Scientists Warn
Washington: Humans are on track to release so much greenhouse gas in less than three years that a key threshold for limiting global warming will be nearly unavoidable, according to a study to be released Thursday. The report predicts that society will have emitted enough carbon dioxide by early 2028 that crossing an important long-term temperature boundary will be more likely than not. The scientists calculate that by that point there will be enough of the heat-trapping gas in the atmosphere to create a 50-50 chance or greater that the world will be locked in to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) of long-term warming since preindustrial times. That level of gas accumulation, which comes from the burning of fuels like gasoline, oil and coal, is sooner than the same group of 60 international scientists calculated in a study last year. "Things aren't just getting worse. They're getting worse faster," said study co-author Zeke Hausfather of the tech firm Stripe and the climate monitoring group Berkeley Earth. "We're actively moving in the wrong direction in a critical period of time that we would need to meet our most ambitious climate goals. Some reports, there's a silver lining. I don't think there really is one in this one." That 1.5 goal, first set in the 2015 Paris agreement, has been a cornerstone of international efforts to curb worsening climate change. Scientists say crossing that limit would mean worse heat waves and droughts, bigger storms and sea-level rise that could imperil small island nations. Over the last 150 years, scientists have established a direct correlation between the release of certain levels of carbon dioxide, along with other greenhouse gases like methane, and specific increases in global temperatures. In Thursday's Indicators of Global Climate Change report, researchers calculated that society can spew only 143 billion more tons (130 billion metric tons) of carbon dioxide before the 1.5 limit becomes technically inevitable. The world is producing 46 billion tons (42 billion metric tons) a year, so that inevitability should hit around February 2028 because the report is measured from the start of this year, the scientists wrote. The world now stands at about 1.24 degrees Celsius (2.23 degrees Fahrenheit) of long-term warming since preindustrial times, the report said. Earth's energy imbalance The report, which was published in the journal Earth System Science Data, shows that the rate of human-caused warming per decade has increased to nearly half a degree (0.27 degrees Celsius) per decade, Hausfather said. And the imbalance between the heat Earth absorbs from the sun and the amount it radiates out to space, a key climate change signal, is accelerating, the report said. "It's quite a depressing picture unfortunately, where if you look across the indicators, we find that records are really being broken everywhere," said lead author Piers Forster, director of the Priestley Centre for Climate Futures at the University of Leeds in England. "I can't conceive of a situation where we can really avoid passing 1.5 degrees of very long-term temperature change." The increase in emissions from fossil-fuel burning is the main driver. But reduced particle pollution, which includes soot and smog, is another factor because those particles had a cooling effect that masked even more warming from appearing, scientists said. Changes in clouds also factor in. That all shows up in Earth's energy imbalance, which is now 25% higher than it was just a decade or so ago, Forster said. Earth's energy imbalance "is the most important measure of the amount of heat being trapped in the system," Hausfather said. Earth keeps absorbing more and more heat than it releases. "It is very clearly accelerating. It's worrisome," he said. Crossing the temperature limit The planet temporarily passed the key 1.5 limit last year. The world hit 1.52 degrees Celsius (2.74 degrees Fahrenheit) of warming since preindustrial times for an entire year in 2024, but the Paris threshold is meant to be measured over a longer period, usually considered 20 years. Still, the globe could reach that long-term threshold in the next few years even if individual years haven't consistently hit that mark, because of how the Earth's carbon cycle works. That 1.5 is "a clear limit, a political limit for which countries have decided that beyond which the impact of climate change would be unacceptable to their societies," said study co-author Joeri Rogelj, a climate scientist at Imperial College London. The mark is so important because once it is crossed, many small island nations could eventually disappear because of sea level rise, and scientific evidence shows that the impacts become particularly extreme beyond that level, especially hurting poor and vulnerable populations, he said. He added that efforts to curb emissions and the impacts of climate change must continue even if the 1.5 degree threshold is exceeded. Crossing the threshold "means increasingly more frequent and severe climate extremes of the type we are now seeing all too often in the U.S. and around the world - unprecedented heat waves, extreme hot drought, extreme rainfall events, and bigger storms," said University of Michigan environment school dean Jonathan Overpeck, who wasn't part of the study. Andrew Dessler, a Texas A&M University climate scientist who wasn't part of the study, said the 1.5 goal was aspirational and not realistic, so people shouldn't focus on that particular threshold. "Missing it does not mean the end of the world," Dessler said in an email, though he agreed that "each tenth of a degree of warming will bring increasingly worse impacts."
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Climate
- Scottish Sun
Weather map turns red as Met Office warn Scotland set for 27C scorcher
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SCOTS are set for a scorcher today with temperatures hitting sizzling highs of 27C. Parts of the country could even be hotter than Rio de Janeiro. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Scots are set to bask in highs of 27C today and tomorrow Credit: Andrew Barr 5 With high pressure over the UK bringing continued settled conditions, temperatures will continue to increase this weekend Credit: Les Gallagher 5 Parts of Scotland could be hotter than Rio de Janeiro Credit: Alamy 5 The Met Office expects temperatures of 27C to hit at around 2pm in Pitlochry, Jedburgh and Berwick-upon-Tweed Several weather maps have turned red as the mercury sits at around the mid-20s this afternoon. The Met Office expects temperatures of 27C to hit at around 2pm in Pitlochry, Jedburgh and Berwick-upon-Tweed. Glasgow is expected to see highs of 25C by 3pm and Edinburgh will bask in 26C. Dundee will also see temperatures of around 26C, with Aberdeen a little bit cooler at 24C. With high pressure over the UK bringing continued settled conditions, temperatures will continue to increase this weekend. Saturday will also see scorching weather, with 27C as the highest temperature expected for a second day in a row. The mercury could reach as high as 34C in some areas down south. Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Dan Holley, said: "The highest temperatures from this hot spell are forecast for Saturday, with low 30s Celsius fairly widely across England, and up to 34C possible in eastern areas. "Despite this, the more uncomfortable heat will be in northern and western areas initially, where despite somewhat lower temperatures the air will be more humid. "While Saturday will be a dry and fine day for many, a few showers or thunderstorms will be possible across northern and western parts of the UK, with an increasing risk of some intense thunderstorms developing across portions of north Wales, northern England and southern Scotland later in the afternoon and into the evening hours, which could bring heavy downpours, frequent lightning, gusty winds and possibly large hail. Map reveals where temps will hit glorious 33C this weekend – as revellers soak up the sun in parks, beaches & festivals "The nights will also be quite warm, with the possibility of temperatures not falling below 20C in some areas, making it hard to sleep. This is what we term a 'tropical night'. "Temperatures will ease from the west on Sunday as fresher air arrives from the Atlantic, although parts of East Anglia and the far southeast of England could still see 28-29°C for a time." The warmest day of the year was recorded last Friday at Lossiemouth in Moray, where the mercury touched 25.7C. You have to go back to the 19th Century to find Scotland's hottest-ever June day. On 18 June 1893, a temperature of 32.2C was recorded at Ochtertyre, Perth and Kinross.
Metro
2 hours ago
- Climate
- Metro
Wildfire warning issued for London after city reaches 32°C
A wildfire warning has been issued for London with temperatures expected to reach highs of 33°C. The threat of wildfires is set to grow today and tomorrow while temperatures are highest, according to London Fire Brigade. The brigade is urging Londoners to take steps to prevent the risk of wildfires spreading. London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne said: 'With temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius and the driest spring in over a century, the risk of fires spreading rapidly is high. 'With so many of our open spaces close to homes and livelihoods, it is vital we all play our part to reduce the chance of grass fires breaking out in the first place and to protect our communities from incidents.' Two grass fires broke out in Rainham on Wednesday within just an hour of each other. Often, the most common cause of wildfires is the use of BBQs, particularly disposable ones. Across England and Wales, firefighters have responded to more than 500 wildfires so far this year. BBQs Position your BBQ outdoors, on level ground (not decking) and keep it well away from anything that may catch fire such as sheds, fences, or trees. Avoid distractions from people around you and never leave the BBQ unattended. Avoid drinking alcohol if you are in charge of the BBQ. Keep children, pets and garden games a safe distance from the BBQ. After cooking, make sure the BBQ is cool before moving or cleaning. Empty ashes onto bare garden soil, not into dustbins or wheelie bins. If they're hot, they can melt the plastic and start a fire. Keep a bucket of water, sand or a garden hose nearby for emergencies. Smoking Discarded smoking materials pose a huge fire risk. If you have had a cigarette, please make sure that it is completely out. Never throw cigarette ends out of car windows. If you are smoking on your balcony, have an ashtray to hand, and don't flick your ashes off the balcony. Rubbish Don't leave bottles or glass in woodland or open spaces – sunlight shining through glass can start fires (take them home and recycle them). Leftover rubbish poses a huge fire risk. People are asked to ensure their rubbish is placed securely inside a bin or to take it home with them. Source: London Fire Brigade Temperatures reached as high as 32°C in Kew, West London, yesterday, and are set to rise even further to 33°C today and over the weekend. The hot weather is expected to peak on Saturday with temperatures of 34°C, below the June record of 35.6°C in 1976. An amber heat-health alert has been issued for all regions in England and is the first amber alert issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) since September 2023. The amber alert means 'significant impacts are likely' across health and social care services because of high temperatures. More Trending This includes a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or people with health conditions. The Met Office has warned that by this afternoon, a number of areas will have passed the heatwave threshold. A heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25°C to 28°C in different parts of the UK. Dan Stroud from the Met Office said: 'We're expecting the hot and dry conditions to continue, it does turn a little bit hazier in the west during the course of Friday, we're still expecting temperatures to reach the low 30s, 31, 32°C fairly widely, maybe seeing 33°C.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Teen struck by lighting at famed park as freak thunderstorm hit New York City MORE: London's best lidos, ponds and outdoor pools to beat the heatwave MORE: Does drinking alcohol in the sun really get you drunk faster? A doctor shares their verdict
NDTV
2 hours ago
- Automotive
- NDTV
Cybertruck Burned So Hot That Driver's Bones Disintegrated, Lawsuit Claims
A Tesla Cybertruck owner in Texas, US, was burned to death after the car rolled into a ditch, following an accident in which he became trapped inside. As per the lawsuit filed by the victim's family, 47-year-old Michael Sheehan burned so hot in the crash that his bones literally 'disintegrated'. Mr Sheehan bought a brand-new Cybertruck from a Tesla showroom on April 25, 2024. However, just 102 days later, Mr Sheehan was involved in an accident where the car left the road and struck a large concrete culvert. Post the collision, the vehicle's "hyper volatile" battery system went into "thermal runaway" - a chain reaction of short-circuits ultimately resulting in uncontrollable temperature escalation. The family has blamed the company for the incident where Mr Sheehan burned to death at 2,760 degrees Celsius (5,000 Fahrenheit), a fire so hot his bones experienced thermal fracture. "He was eight inches shorter in length than he was before he burned. That's thermal fracture," the family's attorney, S Scott West, told The Independent. The lawsuit added that Mr Sheehan would have survived if it had been virtually any other vehicle. However, the Cybertruck was "defectively designed," trapping him inside and incinerating him. With the power out, Mr Sheehan was unable to open the truck's electronic doors while the external door handles failed too, the suit alleged. "Every religion has a version of hell, and every version of hell has fire. It is the most excruciating and longest torture of any death," said Mr West. "Whether it's steam or fire or electrical, the nerves are literally exposed to everything. It's horrific. If you've ever been to a hospital burn unit, you'll hear patients begging the doctors to let them die because the pain is so bad." Cybertruck design issues As per Mr West, the family had been trying to reach a settlement with Tesla to avoid a lawsuit, but the talks eventually collapsed. The family has claimed that aesthetics took priority over functionality at Tesla when designing the Cybertruck, which contributed to the tragedy. Notably, Mr Sheehan was the first-ever person to perish in a Cybertruck wreck since the model hit the market in November 2023. Three months after his death, three college students in California were also burned to death in a Cybertruck that slammed into a tree after veering off the road. Since its launch, Tesla has issued eight recalls for the Cybertruck over problems ranging from malfunctioning accelerator pedals to faulty windshield wiper motors to body panels.
