PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Sunlight unlocks secrets to how Earth works

2025-05-07
(Press-News.org) When our planet and the incoming sunlight align just right, stunning phenomena such as rainbows and halos can occur. More often, sunlight - or shortwave radiation - interacts with Earth in subtle but curious ways.

 

A new perspective study, published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, lays out how shortwave radiation research has led to improved fundamental understanding of Earth. The study also shares exciting prospects for how such advances can continue into the future.

Scientific insights derived from shortwave radiation have an extensive history. “There has traditionally been a lot of interest in understanding shortwave radiation variability” said author Jake Gristey with the University of Colorado's CIRES, also affiliated with LASP and NOAA's Chemical Sciences Laboratory. “Real world applications that directly benefit society are numerous, from agriculture to renewable energy to air quality”. 


In the new study, Gristey highlights three examples of shortwave radiation research that have received notable recent attention. 

 

First, a key challenge for current computer models of the atmosphere is pointed out: shortwave radiation is almost always represented in a series of separate columns. "Shortwave radiation transport in the horizontal direction - or between columns - is therefore unaccounted for" said Gristey. It is shown that horizontal shortwave radiation transport will be increasingly important for accurate simulations as atmospheric models continue to move toward finer spatial grids, demanding new research.

 

Second, satellite measurement gaps at different times of the day are discussed. "Shortwave radiation reflected by Earth can change drastically throughout the day, but many satellites only measure limited parts of the day" Gristey added. He argues that recent developments in small satellite technology and sensor miniaturization could be used to address this important measurement gap with a cost-effective constellation of small satellites in the near future.

 

Third, the spectral structure of shortwave radiation is addressed. “Shortwave radiation is actually composed of a spectrum of different colors – or wavelengths – that hold vast information” claimed Gristey. It is demonstrated that changes in the Earth’s surface and atmosphere could be inferred from satellite measurements of spectral reflected shortwave radiation. Gristey expects an upcoming fleet of satellites to fuel further advances in utilizing spectral shortwave radiation to understand Earth.

 

The new study is part of a special issue for the International Radiation Symposium 2024, where Gristey delivered a lecture on these perspectives as recipient of the 2024 International Radiation Commission Young Scientist Award.

END


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

A healthy diet in childhood is linked to starting menstrual periods later, regardless of BMI or height

2025-05-07
Eating a healthy diet as a child is linked to girls having their first menstrual period at an older age than those who consumed a less healthy diet, according to a new study published today (Wednesday) in Human Reproduction [1], one of the world’s leading reproductive medicine journals. The findings remained unaltered by the girls’ body mass index (BMI) or height, both of which have been associated with the earlier onset of periods. The study has implications for health in later life as it is well known that women who started their periods at an early age may be at higher risk for diabetes, ...

More social parrots have a better vocabulary

2025-05-07
In the urban parks of Barcelona, Spain, the calls of a tropical parrot fill the air. The bright green monk parakeet, native to South America, has found a new home in European cities. Monk parakeets thrive in huge colonies where they communicate with each other using many distinct sounds—offering scientists a unique window into understanding the interplay of individual social relationships with vocal variety. For social animals, communication is a key that unlocks the benefits of group living. It’s well known that animals with more complex social lives tend to have more intricate ...

T. rex’s direct ancestor crossed from Asia to North America

2025-05-07
Tyrannosaurus rex evolved in North America, but its direct ancestor came from Asia, crossing a land bridge connecting the continents more than 70 million years ago, according to a new study led by UCL researchers. The study, published in Royal Society Open Science, also found that the rapid growth in size of tyrannosaurids (the group that included the T. rex) as well as a closely related group called megaraptors coincided with a cooling of the global climate following a peak in temperatures 92 million years ago. This suggests T. rex and its cousins might have been better suited to cooler climates than other dinosaur groups at the time, perhaps due to having feathers or a more warm-blooded ...

Pondering artistic beauty encourages ‘big picture’ thinking, study finds

2025-05-06
Since the dawn of philosophy, thinkers from Plato to Kant have considered how beauty affects human experience, and whether it has the power to transform our state of mind. Now, a new study from the University of Cambridge suggests that stopping to contemplate the beauty of artistic objects in a gallery or museum boosts our ability to think in abstract ways and consider the “bigger picture” when it comes to our lives. Researchers say the findings offer empirical evidence that engaging with artistic beauty helps us escape the “mental trappings of daily life,” such as current anxieties and to-do lists, and induce “psychological distancing”: ...

Research debunks long-held psychology traditions and mental health myths

2025-05-06
New research challenges traditional views and myths in psychology, such as the long-held belief that parenting is the biggest influence on adult personalities. A comprehensive review of current psychology has revealed that many long-held beliefs about mental health and the function of the brain need significant revision. Renowned psychologist Michael W. Eysenck pulls apart some of these commonly-held beliefs in a new book, Rethinking Psychology: Finding Meaning in Misconceptions. Popular psychological myths debunked One of the myths held under ...

Replanted rainforests may benefit from termite transplants

2025-05-06
Termites — infamous for their ability to destroy wood — are rarely welcomed into rainforests that have been painstakingly replanted. But a new paper suggests that termite transplants may be necessary to help regenerating forests to thrive.  Published May 6 in the Journal of Applied Ecology and led by scientists from Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, the study found that termites are not thriving in replanted rainforests in Australia. Because decomposers like termites are essential for recycling nutrients and carbon, the researchers worry that the insect’s slow recovery could hinder the growth and health of the ...

AI has untapped potential to advance biodiversity conservation, study finds

2025-05-06
A new study from McGill University researchers suggests the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to rapidly analyze vast amounts of biodiversity data could revolutionize conservation efforts by enabling scientists and policymakers to make better-informed decisions.  A collaboration between a computer scientist, an ecologist and an international team of researchers, the review published in Nature Reviews Biodiversity examines the seven “global biodiversity knowledge shortfalls,” ...

Study of velvet worm slime could revolutionize sustainable material design

2025-05-06
A new discovery about the slime ejected by velvet worms could revolutionize sustainable material design, according to a study by McGill University researchers. Their findings outline how a naturally occurring protein structure, conserved across species from Australia, Singapore and Barbados over nearly 400 million years of evolution, enables the slime’s transformation from liquid to fibre and back again. It’s a discovery that could inspire next-generation recyclable bioplastics. "Nature has already figured out a way to make materials ...

New drone-assisted 3D model offers a more accurate way to date dinosaur fossils

2025-05-06
A new study from McGill University is reshaping how scientists date dinosaur fossils in Alberta’s Dinosaur Provincial Park (DPP). Using advanced drone-assisted 3D mapping, researchers have uncovered significant variations in a key geological marker, challenging long-standing methods of determining the ages of dinosaur fossils. The researchers say their findings, published in Palaeontologia Electronica, could lead to more accurate reconstructions of ancient ecosystems, helping us better understand Earth's history and how past biodiversity changes inform present and future life. “We’ve ...

New study reveals how inter-species interactions control structure and mechanics of double networks materials

2025-05-06
A new study, “Inter-Species Interactions in Dual, Fibrous Gels Enable Control of Gel Structure and Rheology” published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), uncovers how fine-tuning the interactions between two distinct network-forming species within a soft gel enables programmable control over its structure and mechanical properties. The findings reveal a powerful framework for engineering next-generation soft materials with customizable behaviors, inspired by the complexity of biological tissues. The study uses simulations to investigate how varying the strength and geometry of interactions between two colloidal species impacts network formation and ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

School dinners may encourage picky teenagers to eat better, says new study

Study suggests loss of lung capacity begins between the ages of 20 and 25

California chief nurse officer recognized as national champion for women’s health

Dental and vision services among veterans in Medicare Advantage vs traditional Medicare

Under embargo: Mount Sinai experts to present new research on preeclampsia, doula care and more at 2025 2025 ACOG Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting

Study reveals a deep brain region that links the senses

Bismuth’s mask uncovered: Implications for quantum computing and spintronics materials

Two HIV vaccine trials show proof of concept for pathway to broadly neutralizing antibodies

Ewell joins Gerontological Society of America’s Board of Directors

Large study traces prehistoric human expansion into South America, where genomic studies have been lacking

Millions of previously undocumented genetic variants discovered in Brazil’s highly admixed population

Limited evidence for “escalator to extinction” in mountain ecosystems under climate change

Asians made humanity’s longest prehistoric migration and shaped the genetic landscape in the Americas, finds NTU Singapore-led study

OHSU study reveals impact of oft-overlooked cell in brain function

World’s largest bat organoid platform paves the way for pandemic preparedness

Mapping the genome of the Brazilian population, with implications for healthcare

Proof of concept for Amsterdam UMC-led HIV vaccination

MSK researchers identify key player in childhood food allergies: Thetis cells

Link between ADHD and obesity might depend on where you live

Scientists find two brain biomarkers in long COVID sufferers may be what’s causing their brain fog, other cognitive issues

Empowering cities to act: The Climate Action Navigator highlights where climate action is most needed

KAIST's pioneering VR precision technology & choreography tool receives spotlights at CHI 2025​

Recently, a joint Chinese–American research team led by Dr. HU Han from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Dr. Jingmai O’Conno

Nationally recognized emergency radiologist Tarek Hanna, MD, named new chair of Diagnostic Radiology & Nuclear Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine

“Chicago archaeopteryx” unveiled: New clues on dinosaur–bird transition revealed by Chinese–American research team

‘Rogue’ immune cells explain why a gluten-free diet fails in some coeliac patients

World's first patient treated with personalized CRISPR gene editing therapy at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Infant with rare, incurable disease is first to successfully receive personalized gene therapy treatment

Digital reconstruction reveals 80 steps of prehistoric life

GSA and GSA Foundation announce record support for the geosciences

[Press-News.org] Sunlight unlocks secrets to how Earth works