Human World | EarthSky

Map of China with moving blob of orange.

Air pollution returning to pre-Covid levels

Posted by Eleanor Imster in Earth | Human World | 3 weeks ago

In early 2020, satellite data showed a decline in air pollution coinciding with Covid lockdowns. One year later, as lockdown restrictions loosen and regular activity resumes, air pollution is bouncing back to pre-Covid levels.

A man lies in a bed slightly tipped toward his head.

Long trip to Mars may cause astronauts to misread emotions

Posted by Kelly Kizer Whitt in Human World | Space | 3 weeks ago

A study here on Earth simulating the weightless conditions of space travel showed that the longer the participants were exposed to a low-gravity environment, the more they perceived facial expressions as angry.

Large winged insect with big red eyes on a twig.

Billions of cicadas may be coming soon to trees near you

Posted by EarthSky Voices in Earth | Human World | 4 weeks ago

One of the largest groups of 17-year cicadas, Brood X, last emerged from underground in 2004. The next generation will begin arriving in April 2021.

Close-up of a calendar with the text March 15 in focus and a red pushpin sticking into it.

Beware the Ides of March? Why?

Posted by EarthSky in Human World | 1 month ago

The Ides of March are March 15. We in modern times probably wouldn’t know about them – or know we’re supposed to beware of them – if it weren’t for William Shakespeare.

Smoke from a wildfire behind mountains, truck on road in foreground.

Small temperature increase can cause bigger wildfires, more often

Posted by Kelly Kizer Whitt in Earth | Human World | 1 month ago

A new study shows that just a half a degree of global temperature rise markedly increases fire danger on the most widely inhabited continents.

Huge room with lots of multistory scaffolding and a huge white tunnel.

Scientists discover 4 new particles

Posted by EarthSky Voices in Human World | 1 month ago

On March 3, scientists at CERN in Geneva – which operates the the Large Hadron Collider, largest particle physics laboratory in the world – announced the discovery of 4 brand-new elementary particles.

A streak of white, apparently exploding on the upper end, in a dark sky over trees.

Spectacular fireball display in UK leads to rare meteorite recovery

Posted by EarthSky in Human World | Space | 1 month ago

UK scientists and meteor experts have recovered pieces of a rare meteorite, just days after it entered Earth’s atmosphere and streaked across the sky. Researchers are ecstatic. “Normally we have to send spacecraft to collect bits of other worlds, but this time one has fallen right into our laps!” one said.