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New research shows mysterious solar particle explosions could destroy the ozone layer, bathing Earth in radiation for years

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An aurora visible over Utah from the International Space Station, photographed in Oct. 28, 2023 by an Expedition 70 astronaut.

This article was originally published on The conversation. The publication contributed the article to Space.com Expert Voices: Opinion Pieces and Insights. Alan Cooper is a professor at Charles Sturt University Pavle Arsenovic is a senior scientist at the University of Natural Resources and Life Science (BOKU). The remarkable aurora borealis in early May this year … Read more

Model study suggests a diamond layer at Mercury’s core-mantle boundary

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Proposed scenario for diamond formation at the core-mantle boundary of Mercury. (a) Crystallization of the carbon-saturated silicate magma ocean and the potential, but unlikely, early production of diamond at its base. Graphite was the major phase formed in the magma ocean and accumulated at the surface to form an ancient graphitic crust. (b) During crystallization … Read more

New research shows mysterious solar particle explosions could destroy the ozone layer, bathing Earth in radiation for years

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Credit: Harrison Haines from Pexels The remarkable aurora in early May of this year showed the power that solar storms can emit as radiation, but every now and then the sun does something much more destructive. These explosions of protons, which come directly from the sun’s surface and are known as “solar particle events,” can … Read more

New research shows mysterious solar particle explosions could destroy the ozone layer, bathing Earth in radiation for years

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The remarkable aurora in early May of this year showed the power that solar storms can emit as radiation, but every now and then the sun does something much more destructive. These explosions of protons, fired directly from the sun’s surface and shooting out into space like a searchlight, are known as “solar particle events.” … Read more

The latest threat to the ozone layer: Elon’s Starlink satellite mega-constellation

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Thousands of satellites are currently in low Earth orbit, and some will eventually become defunct and fall back into our planet’s atmosphere. When they reenter the atmosphere, satellites leave behind a trail of chemicals that eat away at the ozone layer. A new study warns that the growing number of internet satellites have contributed to … Read more

Satellite mega-constellations threaten the recovery of the ozone layer, research confirms

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A black screen with stars has lots of white striations over it.

Concentrations of ozone-damaging aluminum oxides in Earth’s atmosphere could increase by 650% in the coming decades due to a rise in the number of defunct satellites catching fire during re-entry, a unique study has found. And as mega-satellite constellations continue to pique the interests of private companies, this could be pretty bad news for our … Read more

Humanity’s satellite habit could eventually suffocate Earth’s ozone layer

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Large numbers of low-Earth orbit satellites like Starlink’s could threaten the planet’s ozone layer once they reenter the atmosphere, according to recent research. Constellations of small satellites deployed for purposes such as broadband coverage typically have a relatively short lifespan, reportedly around five years for Starlink, after which they reenter the atmosphere and burn up, … Read more

Satellites like Starlink could pose a new threat to our healing ozone layer

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Communications companies such as Starlink plan to launch tens of thousands of satellites into orbit over the next decade. The growing shower is already causing problems for astronomers, but recent research has raised another question: What happens when they come down? When these satellites reach the end of their lifespan, they will fall into the … Read more

Ticking time bomb: space debris is eating away at Earth’s ozone layer

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SciTechDaily

Thousands of satellites have been deployed in “mega constellations” to meet the growing need for global internet services, and many more are scheduled for launch soon. However, these compact satellites have a short operational life and are known to emit pollutants that can damage the ozone layer when they disintegrate upon re-entry. A recent study … Read more

Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites could burn the ozone layer, scientists warn

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Internet satellite networks entering the atmosphere en masse could damage the ozone layer, a study warns. Elon Musk’s Starlink is by far the largest player in this field. The effects could “interrupt ozone’s success story for decades to come,” the scientists said. Internet satellite networks like Elon Musk’s Starlink could contribute to the destruction of … Read more