Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency showcases the striking beauty of the planetary nebula NGC 2899, which resembles a moth in flight. The photo was captured by the Hubble Space Telescope.



“The planetary nebula NGC 2899 is shaped like a single macaroni noodle, with its edges pointed up, but its edge-on central torus is semi-transparent in the middle,” noted <a href="https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>.



“The top and bottom edges are thick and orange. The center is semi-transparent blue and green. The wider central region looks roughly like a moth, also filled with semi-transparent blue and green.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-defining-features-of-the-planetary-nebula">Defining features of the planetary nebula</h2>



According to ESA, the nebula features a bipolar, cylindrical outflow of gas extending diagonally. The gas is driven by intense radiation and stellar winds from a central <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/white-dwarf-planets-are-more-habitable-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">white dwarf</a> with a scorching temperature of nearly 22,000 degrees Celsius. 



“In fact, there may be two companion stars that are interacting and sculpting the nebula, which is pinched in the middle by a fragmented ring or torus - looking like a half-eaten donut,” said ESA.



Streams of gaseous “pillars” extend outward, all pointing back toward the central source of energy. The vibrant colors in the image come from glowing hydrogen and oxygen gases.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-discovery-and-significance-of-ngc-2899">Discovery and significance of NGC 2899</h2>



NGC 2899 was discovered by British astronomer John Herschel on March 2, 1835, during his survey of the southern skies from the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. 



Herschel cataloged many deep-sky objects in the southern hemisphere, contributing significantly to the New General Catalogue (NGC) compiled later by John Louis Emil Dreyer.



NGC 2899 is located approximately 4,500 light-years from Earth in the southern constellation Vela, which is part of the larger Vela-Puppis-Carina region of the Milky Way known for its rich <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fluffy-molecular-clouds-may-change-our-understanding-of-star-formation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">star-forming activity</a> and remnants of past stellar explosions.&nbsp;



Vela, whose name means "sails" in Latin, represents the sails of the ancient Greek mythological ship Argo Navis. This region of the sky is particularly abundant in nebulae, star clusters, and other deep-sky objects, making it a focal point for astronomical observations.&nbsp;



The nebula’s distance places it well within our galaxy, offering astronomers a valuable glimpse into the later stages of stellar evolution and the processes that sculpt and illuminate planetary nebulae.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-a-planetary-nebula">What is a planetary nebula?</h2>



Nebulae are vast clouds of gas and dust in space, often serving as the birthplaces or remnants of stars.&nbsp;



They come in various types, including emission nebulae that glow due to ionized gases energized by nearby stars, reflection nebulae that shine by scattering starlight, and dark nebulae that obscure light from background <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/runaway-star-may-be-dragging-a-planet-along-with-it/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stars</a>.&nbsp;



Planetary nebulae form when dying stars shed their outer layers, creating colorful, often symmetrical shapes. Nebulae can span light-years across and are key to understanding the life cycles of stars and the structure of galaxies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-fate-of-dying-stars">The fate of dying stars</h2>



Not all dying stars become planetary nebulae. In fact, stars much more massive than the Sun follow a very different and far more violent path.&nbsp;



These massive stars end their lives in dramatic supernova explosions, releasing tremendous energy and scattering heavy elements into space, which enriches the interstellar medium.&nbsp;



What remains after the explosion depends on the star’s mass. The collapsed core can form a neutron star - an incredibly dense object composed mostly of neutrons. Or, if the star was even more massive, it may create a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astronomers-confirm-lone-black-hole-wandering-through-our-galaxy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">black hole</a>, where gravity is so intense that not even light can escape.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-examples-of-winged-nebulae-nbsp">Examples of “winged” nebulae&nbsp;</h2>



Several well-known nebulae are noted for their "winged" or symmetrical, wing-like appearances, often earning them evocative nicknames.&nbsp;



One of the most famous is the Butterfly Nebula, located in the constellation Scorpius. This planetary <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dragons-egg-nebula-is-a-truly-stunning-sight-to-behold/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nebula</a> displays two expansive lobes that resemble butterfly wings, shaped by fast stellar winds from a dying star.



The Omega Nebula (also known as the Swan Nebula) in the constellation Sagittarius is a bright star-forming region that has been said to resemble a swan in flight. It has broad, glowing "wings" formed by clouds of ionized hydrogen gas.&nbsp;



Similarly, the Eagle Nebula has an overall shape reminiscent of a bird with outstretched wings, which inspired its name. It is located in the constellation Serpens and home to the iconic "Pillars of Creation."



Image Credit: ESA



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Planetary nebula with ethereal wings captured by Hubble

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency...

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features NGC 5335 - a barred spiral galaxy located in the constellation Virgo. 



The photo was captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. According to <a href="https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2025/04/Barred_Spiral_Galaxy_NGC_5335" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>, thousands of distant galaxies are speckled throughout the image in a variety of colors.&nbsp;



Hubble is revealing how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hidden-galaxies-discovery-would-upend-current-understanding-of-universe/">galaxies</a> form, grow, and evolve over cosmic time by capturing detailed images of galaxies at various stages of development, from the nearby universe to billions of light-years away.



Hubble images have shown us that galaxies collide and merge, that star formation varies across different types of galaxies, and that supermassive black holes often lie at their centers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-ngc-5335">Studying NGC 5335</h2>



The galaxy NGC 5335 lies approximately 160 million light-years from Earth. It is classified as an SB(s)bc type galaxy, indicating a well-defined bar structure across its center. 



Like many galaxies of its type, NGC 5335 features active <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/star-formation-reignited-in-the-galaxy-leo-p-after-billions-of-years/">star formation</a>, especially in its spiral arms, where interstellar gas and dust provide the raw material for new stars. 



Observations in different wavelengths, including infrared and ultraviolet, help astronomers study the galaxy’s stellar population and the dynamics of its central bar.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hubble-s-view-of-the-spiral-galaxy-nbsp">Hubble’s view of the spiral galaxy&nbsp;</h2>



“NGC 5335 is categorized as a flocculent spiral galaxy with patchy streamers of star formation across its disk. There is a striking lack of well-defined spiral arms that are commonly found among galaxies, including our Milky Way,” noted ESA.



“A notable bar structure slices across the center of the galaxy. The bar channels gas inwards toward the galactic center, fueling star formation.”&nbsp;



“Such bars are dynamic in galaxies and may come and go over two-billion-year intervals. They appear in about 30 percent of observed galaxies, including our Milky Way.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-galactic-bar-in-the-milky-way-nbsp">Galactic bar in the Milky Way&nbsp;</h2>



The bar in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astronomers-found-something-strange-at-core-of-milky-way-galaxy-webb-meerkat/">Milky Way</a> is a vast, elongated structure composed mostly of stars, stretching across the galaxy’s central region. It is a key feature of our galaxy’s architecture, spanning about 27,000 light-years and oriented at an angle relative to the galaxy’s spiral arms. 



Astronomers believe the bar plays a crucial role in the dynamics and evolution of the Milky Way by funneling gas inward toward the galactic center. This can feed star formation and fuel the supermassive black hole at the core.&nbsp;



The bar is thought to have formed from instabilities in the galactic disk and continues to influence the motion of stars and the overall gravitational balance of the galaxy.&nbsp;



Observations in infrared and radio wavelengths, which can pierce through the dust in the galactic plane, have helped scientists map the bar’s size, shape, and orientation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-constellation-virgo-nbsp">The constellation Virgo&nbsp;</h2>



Virgo is one of the most prominent and well-known constellations in the night sky, both astronomically and mythologically. It is the second-largest constellation by area and lies along the zodiac, making it one of the twelve constellations through which the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/team-creates-video-showing-the-sun-in-gamma-rays-over-a-14-year-period/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sun</a> appears to move during the year.&nbsp;



Virgo is most visible in the evening sky in the Northern Hemisphere during spring, particularly in April and May. Its name means “virgin” in Latin.



Virgo is traditionally associated with various fertility and agriculture goddesses across different cultures, including the Greek goddess Demeter and her daughter Persephone, as well as the Roman goddess Ceres.&nbsp;



In some myths, Virgo represents Astraea, the virgin goddess of justice who fled to the heavens during the corruption of mankind.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-astronomical-significance-of-virgo">Astronomical significance of Virgo</h2>



Astronomically, Virgo is situated between Leo to the west and Libra to the east. One of its most notable stars is Spica, the brightest star in Virgo and one of the brightest in the night sky.&nbsp;



Spica is a blue-white giant, located approximately 250 light-years from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/was-early-earth-a-purple-planet-scientists-say-its-possible/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth</a>. It has been important for navigation and agriculture for centuries, marking planting and harvest times in ancient calendars.



Virgo is also of great interest to astronomers because it hosts the Virgo Cluster, a massive cluster of galaxies about 65 million light-years away.&nbsp;



This cluster contains more than 1,000 galaxies, and it's part of the larger Virgo Supercluster, which also includes our own Local Group of galaxies. This makes Virgo a key area for studying large-scale structures in the universe.



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Spiral galaxy glows in the constellation Virgo

Today's Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features Lake Chad in central Africa. The photograph was taken by an astronaut on the International Space Station.



According to <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/154407/lake-chads-water-wetlands-and-dunes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>, Lake Chad once ranked among the largest natural lakes in the world. It was a critical resource for millions of people and animals, supporting agriculture and fishing across the region.&nbsp;



Lake Chad straddles the borders of Chad, Nigeria, Niger, and Cameroon. The shallow <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lakes-are-warming-toward-the-point-of-no-return/">lake</a> is primarily fed by the Chari River, which brings water from the Central African Republic. 



The water levels are also influenced by seasonal rainfall. The rainfall patterns vary significantly across the basin but generally follow a wet-dry seasonal cycle.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environmental-decline-and-shrinkage-nbsp">Environmental decline and shrinkage&nbsp;</h2>



From the 1960s to the early 2000s, the lake lost more than 90 percent of its surface area. It transformed from a vast expanse of open water into a patchwork of wetlands, reed beds, and scattered pools.&nbsp;



This environmental decline has had severe consequences for local communities, leading to food and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-water-security-relies-on-the-origins-of-rainfall/">water insecurity</a>, loss of livelihoods, and increasing competition over scarce resources.



“Ongoing droughts and the rising demand for fresh water have shrunk the lake to less than a tenth of the area it covered in the middle of the last century,” noted NASA.



“Although the lake has experienced dry and wet periods for thousands of years, there has been a significant decline in the amount of lake water available since the 1960s.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conflict-culture-and-economy">Conflict, culture, and economy</h2>



Lake Chad is a geopolitical hotspot. The region has been affected by conflict, including the insurgency led by Boko Haram, which has displaced millions and further complicated efforts to manage and protect the lake’s fragile ecosystem.&nbsp;



Despite these challenges, regional governments and international organizations are working to restore and sustain the lake, including ambitious proposals to divert water from the Congo River basin.



Culturally and economically, Lake Chad remains vital. It is a hub for trade and social exchange among diverse ethnic groups and continues to provide fish and fertile land despite its reduced size.&nbsp;



The future of Lake Chad hinges on sustainable water management, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-extremes-alter-how-sunlight-travels-through-clear-lakes/">climate</a> resilience, and political cooperation across national boundaries.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolution-of-lake-chad-nbsp">Evolution of Lake Chad&nbsp;</h2>



According to NASA, the evolution of Lake Chad has been documented by astronaut photography over the past 60 years.&nbsp;



“During the Apollo 7 mission in 1968, an astronaut acquired an oblique <a href="https://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/SearchPhotos/photo.pl?mission=AS07&amp;roll=8&amp;frame=1932" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">photograph</a> of the lake as one large body of water. In 1982, another photo from the space shuttle mission STS-5 recorded receding water levels and encroaching sand dunes.”



“A photo taken in 2015 during space station Expedition 42 captured the lake’s remaining waters and wetlands in dark green, blue, and brown, contrasting with the sandy shades of the surrounding land.” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wildlife-of-lake-chad">Wildlife of Lake Chad</h2>



Lake Chad still supports wildlife, though species diversity and abundance have declined significantly due to ecosystem degradation



The lake and its surrounding wetlands are home to several species of fish, including tilapia, catfish, and Nile perch, which are important both ecologically and economically.&nbsp;



These fish support a major regional fishing industry, although overfishing and changes in water conditions have put pressure on fish populations.



Birds are another key component of the ecosystem. The lake serves as a crucial habitat and stopover point for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-may-be-using-quantum-physics-for-migration/">migratory birds</a> traveling along the African-Eurasian flyway. 



Species such as herons, storks, ducks, and geese can be found in the region, especially during the wet season when parts of the lake flood and create rich feeding grounds.



Mammals that depend on the surrounding floodplains and wetlands include hippos and various antelope species, yet their numbers have declined.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conservation-efforts-and-challenges">Conservation efforts and challenges</h2>



Reptiles like Nile crocodiles and turtles also inhabit the lake's waters and marshy areas. In the past, larger wildlife such as elephants and lions may have roamed the wider Lake Chad basin, but they are now mostly gone from the immediate lake area due to habitat loss and human activity.



Despite these challenges, Lake Chad remains an important, yet increasingly fragile, refuge for wildlife in a region where water and natural habitats are becoming more scarce.&nbsp;



Conservation efforts aim to balance the needs of people and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/thousands-of-freshwater-species-are-threatened-with-extinction/">wildlife</a>, but the success of such efforts depends on managing the lake’s limited resources in the face of climate change, political instability, and population growth.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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Lake Chad: A vanishing lifeline in Central Africa

Today's Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features...

Today’s Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features a clear view of a stunning stellar nursery captured by the James Webb Space Telescope.



Captured in extraordinary detail, Webb’s latest image shows not a mountain range, but a wall of cosmic dust sculpted by fierce radiation and winds. 



This landscape looks tranquil from a distance, yet it is a turbulent region where giant stars shape their surroundings and new <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/star-formation-reignited-in-the-galaxy-leo-p-after-billions-of-years/">stars</a> continue to form.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-vibrant-stellar-nursery-nbsp">A vibrant stellar nursery&nbsp;</h2>



The universe is far from static. Clouds of gas and dust collapse, stars ignite, and entire regions blaze with fresh energy. One such place is the Lobster Nebula, sitting about 5,500 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius.&nbsp;



At its core lies Pismis 24, a vibrant cluster filled with some of the hottest, youngest stars ever seen.&nbsp;



Pismis 24-1 was once thought to be a single behemoth. It has since been revealed to be at least two stars, weighing in at 74 and 66 times the mass of the Sun.&nbsp;



Even separated, they rank among the most massive and luminous stars known. Their combined brilliance dominates the cluster, carving out surrounding gas and dust while igniting new rounds of star birth in their wake.&nbsp;



Nearby stars, some almost eight times hotter than the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-our-sun-is-unusually-calm-and-what-that-means-for-earth/">Sun</a>, pour out streams of scorching energy. These powerful forces hollow out cavities in the nebula, sweep up dense ridges of material, and create striking spires that stretch across light-years of space.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-thousands-of-stars-unveiled-nbsp">Thousands of stars unveiled&nbsp;</h2>



Webb used its infrared vision to peer past veils of dust that once obscured regions like this. The <a href="https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2025/09/Glittering_glimpse_of_star_birth#msdynmkt_trackingcontext=c429878b-a758-4049-b2e4-1f4b83910300" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">image</a>, captured by the telescope’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam), reveals thousands of stars scattered across the scene. 



The most brilliant ones, marked with six-pointed diffraction spikes, are the cluster’s largest members. Smaller stars, tinted white, yellow, or red depending on their type and the dust around them, fill in the tapestry.&nbsp;



Behind them, tens of thousands more stars belonging to the Milky Way shine through, giving a sense of the cluster’s place within our galaxy.



The tallest spire in the image stretches some 5.4 light-years from base to tip. Its width is immense - wide enough to fit more than 200 solar systems laid end to end, each extending out to Neptune’s orbit.&nbsp;



These structures are not permanent. Radiation and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/silent-storms-experts-identify-the-mysterious-source-of-solar-wind/">stellar winds</a> gnaw at their edges, compressing pockets of gas until new stars ignite deep inside them.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-colors-that-tell-a-story">Colors that tell a story</h2>



The Webb image isn’t just striking - it carries information coded in color. Cyan traces ionized hydrogen gas, heated to extremes by the cluster’s massive stars. Orange represents fine dust grains, made of molecules similar to smoke on Earth. 



“Red signifies cooler, denser molecular hydrogen. The darker the red, the denser the gas. Black denotes the densest gas, which is not emitting light. The wispy white features are dust and gas that are scattering starlight,” noted <a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>.



These colors reveal how stars interact with their surroundings. They show where winds are strongest, where new stars are forming, and where raw material is being stripped away.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-closer-look-at-stellar-nurseries">A closer look at stellar nurseries</h2>



Studying clusters like Pismis 24 helps scientists answer long-standing questions about the birth of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-stars-shape-planetary-systems-like-ours-with-ultraviolet-radiation/">massive stars</a>. 



These giants are rare, short-lived, and shape their galaxies more than smaller stars ever could. Their radiation and explosions seed space with heavy elements that later become planets, atmospheres, and even life.&nbsp;



Yet the earliest years of star clusters remain difficult to observe because they form deep within thick clouds of dust.



That is where Webb’s sharp infrared vision makes all the difference. By cutting through the obscuring layers, it exposes the full story of how stars as large as Pismis 24-1 grow, interact, and ultimately transform their environment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stellar-nursery-in-the-lobster-nebula-nbsp">Stellar nursery in the Lobster Nebula&nbsp;</h2>



Massive stars influence everything around them. They trigger new waves of star formation while also tearing regions apart. Their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dead-stars-reveal-the-hidden-physics-of-the-universe/">deaths</a> in violent supernovae scatter elements like carbon, oxygen, and iron - the building blocks of rocky planets and living organisms. 



Understanding the origins of massive stars isn’t just about distant astronomy. It connects directly to how our own Sun and solar system came to be.



The Lobster Nebula is one of the nearest and most accessible sites where this process is happening on a grand scale. By studying it, researchers gain rare insight into a stage of cosmic evolution that set the stage for countless solar systems across the galaxy.



Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI



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Sparkling stellar nursery in the Lobster Nebula

Today’s Image of the Day from the European Space Agency...

Today's Image of the Day from the James Webb Space Telescope features the planetary nebula NGC 6072, located about 3,200 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius.&nbsp;



The nebula was formed from the outer layers of a dying star and shaped by complex interactions that likely involved a hidden companion star.



When stars like our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/widest-high-resolution-photo-of-the-sun-ever-captured-solar-orbiter/">Sun</a> reach the end of their lives, they don’t go quietly. They erupt - slowly, over thousands of years - shedding their outer layers into space and creating glowing shells of gas and dust called planetary nebulae.&nbsp;



These dramatic displays are not only visually striking but also packed with information about how stars live and die. Thanks to NASA’s <a href="https://webbtelescope.org/contents/news-releases/2025/news-2025-124.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">James Webb Space Telescope</a>, astronomers are now getting a much closer look at stellar life cycles in remarkable detail.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-not-your-typical-nebula">Not your typical nebula</h2>



NGC 6072 doesn’t look like the neat, symmetrical nebula that many might imagine. Instead, Webb’s image shows what looks like a cosmic splatter painting: a tangled web of gas, dust, and glowing rings shooting out in different directions.



While some planetary nebulae are spherical or have two clear lobes - what astronomers call "bipolar" shapes - this one breaks the mold. Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) reveals that NGC 6072 is “multi-polar,” with at least three separate lobes extending in different directions.&nbsp;



One pair stretches from roughly 11 o’clock to 5 o’clock, another from 1 to 7, and possibly a third from 12 to 6. It’s like watching a fountain spew in several directions all at once.



These lobes likely didn’t form by chance. Instead, astronomers think they’re being sculpted by the powerful influence of a second star orbiting the one that’s dying.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-partner-in-the-chaos">A partner in the chaos</h2>



The idea of a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/red-supergiant-star-betelgeuse-has-a-companion-finally-found-after-100-years/">companion star</a> adds a layer of complexity to the story. The star at the center of NGC 6072 is nearing the final stages of its life and shedding its outer layers - a common fate for low- to intermediate-mass stars like the Sun. But when there’s a second star nearby, things can get messy.



Astronomers believe that this companion is interacting with the main star’s ejecta, shaping the outflows and possibly compressing material into a disk that appears perpendicular to the lobes. Webb’s high-resolution data suggests this dynamic duo is responsible for NGC 6072’s odd shape.



The central area has a light blue glow in near-infrared light, showing the hot core that remains. Dark orange wisps of gas and dust curve around it, interrupted by deep blue openings.&nbsp;



These shapes may have been carved out by fast stellar winds blowing through the earlier, slower-moving halo of gas the star expelled long ago.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mysterious-rings-of-ngc-6072">Mysterious rings of NGC 6072</h2>



In the mid-infrared view from Webb’s <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/mid-infrared-instrument-miri/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MIRI instrument</a>, the picture becomes even more intriguing. One tiny pinkish-white dot, likely the main star, sits at the center, surrounded by a faint bullseye of concentric rings. These rings hint at a story that spans thousands of years.



One explanation is that the orbiting companion star may have carved out these rings as it passed through the outer layers of the primary star’s expanding envelope, leaving behind a pattern much like ripples in a pond.&nbsp;



Another possibility is that the main star itself may have gone through pulsations, shedding material in evenly spaced intervals, each separated by millennia.



The red areas in the near-infrared and blue areas in the mid-infrared both highlight cold molecular gas - most likely molecular hydrogen.&nbsp;



Closer to the center, astronomers see hot, ionized gas glowing brightly. This layered combination of temperatures and gases offers insight into how the star has evolved over time and what forces are at work.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-cycle-of-life">The cycle of life</h2>



Eventually, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/six-rogue-worlds-discovered-inside-a-young-star-forming-nebula/">nebula</a> will fade. The hot central core will cool and shrink into a white dwarf, and the glowing gas will disperse into the interstellar medium. But it doesn’t just vanish. That material - now enriched with heavier elements forged inside the star - will go on to seed future <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/hubble-captures-a-stunning-stellar-nursery/">stars</a>, planets, and maybe even life.



This is part of a larger cosmic cycle, and NGC 6072 is helping scientists understand it better. The fact that it doesn’t follow a simple, symmetrical pattern is actually a big deal.&nbsp;



The more astronomers study these oddly shaped nebulae, the more they can learn about the role of companion stars, stellar winds, and other forces in shaping the final acts of stellar life.



Astronomers studying NGC 6072 with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/thousands-of-galaxies-revealed-in-a-single-webb-image/">Webb</a> want to learn more about the full life cycle of stars and how they impact their surrounding environments. That includes understanding how stars lose up to 80 percent of their mass in these final stages and how that material gets recycled into the universe.



Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI



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What we can learn from dying stars and their stunning light shows

Today's Image of the Day from the James Webb Space...

Every winter, countless people step onto icy sidewalks and suddenly find themselves sliding. For generations, the explanation was simple: pressure from shoes or skis melted a thin layer of ice, making it slippery. Friction was also thought to play a role. 



This idea, taught for more than a century, seemed convincing enough. But new science shows a very different story.



Researchers at <a href="https://www.uni-saarland.de/en/home.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Saarland University</a> have uncovered that ice slipperiness is not caused by pressure or friction. Instead, it’s the interaction between molecular dipoles in the ice and those in materials like shoe soles. 



The study challenges a belief rooted in the 19th century, when James Thomson, Lord Kelvin’s brother, first proposed the old theory.



"It turns out that neither pressure nor friction plays a particularly significant part in forming the thin liquid layer on ice," said Professor Martin Müser, who led the research.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dipoles-make-ice-slippery">Dipoles make ice slippery</h2>



So what are dipoles? A dipole forms when a molecule has partial positive and negative charges, creating polarity. Water molecules naturally have this polarity, and in ice they align in a crystalline <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/life-survived-when-earth-was-covered-in-ice-but-how/">lattice</a>. 



When someone steps onto ice, it is not the force of weight but the orientation of dipoles in the shoe sole disrupting the ordered structure of ice molecules. This disturbance causes disorder at the surface.



"In three dimensions, these dipole-dipole interactions become 'frustrated,'" said Müser. 



The result is that the once-orderly lattice breaks down into an amorphous, liquid-like film. This process explains why ice remains treacherously slippery.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-old-explanations-overturned">Old explanations overturned</h2>



The new theory also challenges long-standing explanations involving pressure melting and frictional heating. For decades, scientists debated whether <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/skiers-are-spreading-pfas-forever-chemicals-around-the-worlds-mountains/">skiers</a> glide because pressure lowers the melting point or because frictional heat generates a thin water film.



But simulations show that ice can liquefy without significant heating or pressure. Instead, displacement-driven amorphization occurs. 



The crystalline surface becomes disordered purely through sliding motion, with molecules shifting from their fixed lattice positions into unstable, fluid-like arrangements that mimic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ice-melt-is-main-driver-of-earths-sea-level-rise-surge-that-is-happening-today-gmsl/">melting</a> yet arise entirely from motion-induced disruptions rather than thermal energy.



In fact, ice at extremely low temperatures can amorphize faster than ice closer to its melting point. This shows that slipperiness does not depend only on thermal effects but on molecular disorder created during sliding. It highlights a deeper physical mechanism that rewrites how scientists understand everyday icy surfaces.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-slippery-even-in-extreme-cold">Slippery even in extreme cold</h2>



The research also refutes another long-standing belief. "Until now, it was assumed that skiing below -40°C (-40°F) is impossible because it’s simply too cold for a thin lubricating liquid film to form beneath the skis. That, too, it turns out, is incorrect," Müser said.



"Dipole interactions persist at extremely low temperatures. Remarkably, a liquid film still forms at the interface between ice and ski - even near absolute zero."



At such extremes, the film is thicker than honey, making skiing impractical, but the layer still exists.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surface-materials-matter">Surface materials matter</h2>



The Saarland study highlights how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-do-polar-bears-get-traction-on-ice/">ice friction</a> depends not only on molecular dipoles but also on surface properties. Hydrophobic surfaces, which repel water, reduce friction more effectively than hydrophilic ones, which attract it.



This suggests that the material of skis, skates, or shoes plays a major role in how slippery ice feels. Even with disorder-induced films, friction remains small only if the surfaces allow water to slip easily. 



As a result, design choices in sporting equipment, footwear, and transportation materials can directly affect performance, safety, and stability on frozen surfaces during winter and beyond everyday human movement.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rethinking-slippery-ice">Rethinking slippery ice</h2>



For everyday life, whether pressure, friction, or dipoles are responsible may not change much for someone who slips on a sidewalk. But in physics, this distinction matters deeply.



The work of Müser and his colleagues Achraf Atila and Sergey Sukhomlinov overturns nearly two centuries of accepted understanding. 



It reveals that slipperiness comes from disorder, not just melting, and that cold ice can lubricate itself by forming amorphous films, reshaping how scientists think about motion, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ordinary-ice-generates-electricity-when-bent-or-twisted/">energy</a>, and structural changes under stress at the most fundamental molecular scale.



The implications stretch beyond icy sidewalks and ski slopes. They open a new window into how materials deform, how friction works at the molecular level, and why even the coldest ice can still betray our balance, inspiring further research into novel materials and practical safety solutions.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/1plj-7p4z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Physical Review Letters</a>.



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Why ice is slippery: Scientists overturn 200 years of assumptions

Every winter, countless people step onto icy sidewalks and suddenly...

Heat keeps pushing people indoors, raising electric bills and straining power grids. A new fabric created for cooling suggests there is another way to stay comfortable without flipping on the air conditioner.



Researchers at the <a href="https://www.uchicago.edu/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Chicago</a> report a fabric that stayed about 4.1 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than a sports cooling textile, and about 16 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than silk under full sun. It's designed to work on both buildings and cars.



<a href="https://pme.uchicago.edu/faculty/po-chun-hsu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Po Chun Hsu</a> of the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago led the work.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-city-heat-and-cooling-fabric">City heat and cooling fabric</h2>



Urban neighborhoods soak up heat and radiate it back out. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (<a href="https://www.epa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EPA</a>) defines the urban heat island as a city area that runs hotter than nearby places because surfaces like roads and buildings absorb and re-emit energy, an effect that intensifies heat waves.



This matters for a lot of people. By 2050, about 68 percent of the world’s population are <a href="https://www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/population/2018-revision-of-world-urbanization-prospects.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">expected</a> to live in cities.



Every warm object gives off invisible light that carries heat away. Scientists call this <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiative_cooling" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">radiative cooling</a> (RC), and it is most effective when a material lets heat escape in the mid infrared band while reflecting sunlight.



Two other terms help here. <a href="https://www.npl.co.uk/resources/q-a/why-is-emissivity-important" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Emissivity</a> describes how well a surface emits heat as light, and the atmospheric transmission window (ATW) is a part of the sky’s transparency that lets mid infrared energy pass through to space.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-cooling-fabric-works">How the cooling fabric works</h2>



The team built a layered textile that balances these optical tricks. 



A top layer scatters sunlight strongly, a middle layer with silver nanowires reflects unwanted infrared from hot pavement and walls, and an inner wool layer pulls body heat into the fabric for release.



The textile reflects 97 percent of sunlight and emits strongly in the mid infrared window, which is why it stays cooler even next to hot urban surfaces. 



The group tested samples under clear skies in Arizona and around Chicago. They tracked temperature with sensors, minimized stray <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-heat-is-pushing-parts-of-earth-beyond-human-survival/">heat</a>, and compared against common clothing materials.



The results line up with the physics. The textile beat a broadband emitter used in sports gear by about 4.1 degrees Fahrenheit and beat silk by about 16 degrees Fahrenheit at midday, with additional on-skin tests confirming cooler readings on a volunteer’s arm.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-it-could-help">Where it could help</h2>



Clothing is an obvious first step, but the team is also developing thicker sheets for vehicles and buildings. That approach could cut air conditioner run time on hot afternoons by passively blocking heat gain.



“We need to reduce carbon emission and make our cities carbon negative or carbon neutral, but meanwhile, people are feeling the impact of these high temperatures,” said Hsu.



Many <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cool-roofs-on-city-buildings-secret-to-beating-urban-heat/">cooling</a> shirts work well in open fields because they reflect harsh sunlight. City streets are different, because heat also arrives from sidewalks and walls that warm up far past skin temperature on sunny days.



A textile that emits heat at all mid infrared wavelengths will also absorb that sideways and upward heat. 



The new fabric focuses its emission into the sky window and blocks the rest, so it avoids soaking up warmth from buildings and asphalt.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-practical-design-of-cooling-fabric">Practical design of cooling fabric</h2>



A material for everyday wear must breathe, stretch, wash, and last. The fabric’s porous structure allows water vapor to pass, and the layers hold up under bending and machine washing.



The outer surface resists wetting, which helps it stay clean and maintain its optical performance. The inner layer can be swapped for other common fabrics without changing how the outer layers control heat.



There has been steady progress on passive cooling textiles. In 2021, a study reported that nanoprocessed silk kept artificial skin about 12.5 degrees Celsius cooler than cotton under sunlight.



Other teams explored active control of body heat with thin film devices. In 2023, researchers demonstrated a kirigami enabled, electrochromic wearable that tunes mid-infrared emission, a <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10263260/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WeaVE paper</a> that points to future smart garments which can warm or cool with small bursts of power.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-energy-equity-and-comfort">Energy, equity, and comfort</h2>



Air conditioning is effective, yet it pulls a lot of electricity on the hottest days. Passive materials that lower temperatures by design can trim that demand without adding gadgets or noise.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-diamond-dust-reverse-global-warming-and-cool-the-planet/">Cooling</a> access is not equal within or across countries. A fabric that reduces indoor and personal heat in simple ways gives people another option when they do not have, or cannot afford to run, a powerful cooling system.



Turning lab textiles into everyday products requires scale, cost control, and safety checks. The patent pending design suggests it can be produced with electrospinning and standard coating steps.



If thicker versions of the sheet can be manufactured at low cost, they could wrap parked cars, shade windows, or line delivery containers for food. Those uses would cut heat without adding electrical parts.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adl0653" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science</a>.



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Young scientists create fabric capable of cooling interiors without air conditioning

Heat keeps pushing people indoors, raising electric bills and straining...

Deep in the Brazilian Amazon, something extraordinary was caught on camera. Researchers from the University of East Anglia (UEA) filmed a black-coated jaguar mating with a spotted jaguar in Serra do Pardo National Park.



This rare moment offers a new glimpse into the secret world of one of the most elusive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/jaguars-offer-a-glimpse-of-survival-in-a-changing-world/">predators</a> on Earth. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-jaguars-and-their-mating-patterns">Jaguars and their mating patterns</h2>



Jaguars usually live solitary lives, making them difficult to observe. During an Amazon Biodiversity and Carbon (ABC) Expedition, researchers recorded a six-minute video showing a melanistic female with a spotted male.



"We hit the proverbial jackpot and captured the first-ever video trap footage of a black jaguar mating with a spotted male in the wild," said Professor Carlos Peres of <a href="https://www.uea.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UEA.</a>



"The six-minute sequence reveals courtship and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animal-intelligence-did-not-evolve-due-to-natural-selection/">copulation</a>, and if they'd moved a few meters we would have missed everything!" 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-first-wild-jaguar-mating">First wild jaguar mating</h2>



The footage provides a look into behavior rarely seen outside captivity. "This is the first time we've captured a melanistic jaguar mating in the wild," said Postdoctoral Researcher Thomas Luypaert from the <a href="https://www.nmbu.no/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Norwegian University of Life Sciences</a>.



Such observations are crucial, since jaguar reproduction is still poorly understood in natural settings. Most previous knowledge comes from zoos, where stress or mate incompatibility can distort natural instincts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-jaguars-have-similar-mating-patterns">Jaguars have similar mating patterns</h2>



The recorded event displayed many of the same stages seen in captive jaguars. Researchers noted the male’s approach, the female’s crouching, mounting, receptiveness, and pelvic movements - all matching well-documented sequences.



Some behaviors, like tail flicking, growls, and female rolling after mating, added further depth.



Interestingly, the study suggested that even with coat differences, both black and spotted jaguars show similar mating patterns. This consistency supports the idea that jaguar courtship is deeply rooted and resilient across conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-timing-and-signals">Timing and signals</h2>



The footage revealed details about timing. The two <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/endangered-wild-species-find-forbidden-love-domestic-animals/">mating</a> events occurred in rapid succession, separated by just over three minutes. Such short intervals are consistent with female peak fertility, when frequent copulation may help trigger ovulation.



Acoustic cues also played a role. Male vocalizations near the end of mating matched known signals of ejaculation. 



Meanwhile, the female’s rolling after the second copulation suggested successful intromission - a critical detail for assessing reproductive outcomes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-survival-through-deception">Survival through deception</h2>



One intriguing detail was evidence of lactation in the female, hinting she might already have cubs. If so, her mating could represent pseudo-estrus, a behavior where females mate not for conception but for protection.



"If the female was indeed lactating, it could mean she was using a 'hide-and-flirt' strategy, which is mating to confuse paternity and protect her cubs," Luypaert explained. "That's a possibility we can't rule out."



This aligns with other reports of jaguars mating while raising cubs. By confusing males about paternity, females may lower the risk of infanticide.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-jaguar-communication-and-behavior">Jaguar communication and behavior </h2>



Melanism, caused by a mutation in the MC1R gene, occurs in about 10 percent of jaguars. It is more common in humid environments, where a dark coat may improve camouflage and thermoregulation.



While some studies suggest melanism might affect behavior through linked genetic traits, the researchers found no obvious difference.



Communication in jaguars relies on more than visual cues, with scent and sound likely ensuring courtship continuity.



This single encounter carries weight far beyond novelty. It validates captive behavioral studies, offers benchmarks for ex situ breeding programs, and provides fresh context for jaguar conservation.



"Understanding how jaguars behave in their natural environment is essential, not just for science, but for improving conservation and breeding programs worldwide," Luypaert said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cameras-changing-science">Cameras changing science</h2>



Beyond jaguars, this work highlights the power of technology. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/weasels-are-vanishing-or-are-they-just-too-sneaky-to-spot/">Camera traps</a> allow scientists to capture rare moments without disturbing wildlife.



"Camera traps are revolutionizing how we study animals," Luypaert said. "Without them, this moment would have gone completely unnoticed."



Researchers hope to expand these observations to see if melanism influences reproductive success or social dynamics. "This is just one data point, but it opens the door to asking bigger questions," noted Luypaert.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-jaguar-research-in-the-amazon">Jaguar research in the Amazon</h2>



The Amazon Biodiversity and Carbon (ABC) Expeditions, led by NMBU and UEA with Brazilian institutes, combine wildlife surveys and vegetation studies to understand biodiversity and carbon stocks in remote Amazon regions. 



This jaguar encounter is one remarkable story emerging from their fieldwork. It illustrates how dedicated monitoring efforts can uncover extraordinary insights, strengthen <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/biodiversity-leaks-conservation-efforts-may-shift-harm-elsewhere/">conservation</a> practices, and reveal behaviors previously hidden within the forest.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/pp7LwxUmhao?si=tG66TZAR6MQ3QwsN
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Video Credit: UEA Research</figcaption></figure>



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.71776" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ecology and Evolution</a>.



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Wild romance: Black jaguar filmed mating for the first time

Deep in the Brazilian Amazon, something extraordinary was caught on...

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