Scientists uncover origins of the Sun’s swirling spicules

Written by J. Martínez-Sykora

At any given moment, as many as 10 million wild jets of solar material burst from the sun’s surface. They erupt as fast as 60 miles per second, and can reach lengths of 6,000 miles before collapsing. These are spicules, and despite their grass-like abundance, scientists didn’t understand how they form.

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Scientists Are Putting Tens of Thousands of Sea Fossils Online

Written by Erin Blakemore

Some 100 million years ago, much of what is now North America was underwater. The body of water scientists calls the Western Interior Seaway covered a swath of land that stretched over the entire Midwest. But its secrets have been preserved in countless fossils—and now, over 100,000 of these fossils are being digitized.

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Why Aren’t They Grounding Flights in Birmingham, Ala?

Written by Carl Brehmer

It was all over the news a couple of days ago that human-caused climate change is so severe that Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, Arizona, is having to ground planes.

“Too Hot to Fly? Climate Change May Take a Toll on Air Travel” New York Times, June 20, 2017

“It’s so hot in Phoenix that airplanes can’t fly” – Washington Post, June 21, 2017

“Extreme heat grounds flights in Phoenix” – AOL, June 21, 2017

Most of the “greenhouse gases” are in Alabama. Why aren’t they grounding flights in Birmingham?

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