"March's Stunning Science Visuals: Exploding Star Remnants and More"
Get ready for a visual treat as we take you through some of the most stunning and thought-provoking science images of March, handpicked by Nature's photo team. From the remnants of an exploded star to a rare whale sighting, these images are sure to leave you in awe.
Let's start with the stunning 1.3-gigapixel image of the Vela supernova remnant, the remains of a star that exploded more than 10,000 years ago. Captured using the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile, the image is DECam's highest-resolution picture so far. The bright colors show the interwoven plumes of dust and gas in unprecedented detail.
In a rare and exciting sighting, researchers have spotted a grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) off the coast of New England. This species was thought to have been almost extinct from the Atlantic Ocean since the eighteenth century. The animal's presence could be explained by climate change, with sea ice usually preventing these whales from crossing the Northwest Passage. But in recent years, the passage has been largely free of ice during the Northern Hemisphere summer.
Moving on to archaeology, researchers have discovered adornments made from the teeth of animals, including bears, elk, and foxes, crafted by Gravettian hunter-gatherers. These ornaments were used by the culture responsible for the iconic Venus of Willendorf figurine. The study revealed more nuanced patterns, indicating that culture and genetics are interconnected but not perfectly aligned.
In Texas, the Smokehouse Creek fire, the biggest wildfire ever recorded in the state, has resulted in the destruction of homes, power lines, and other infrastructure. The blaze ripped through an area of more than 400,000 hectares and took three weeks to control.
In Iceland, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket released more than 50 small satellites into low Earth orbit before burning up in the atmosphere over the Barents Sea. The phenomenon was captured by a drone and shows the aftermath of the 'SpaceX spiral' caused by sunlight bouncing off frozen crystals of excess fuel.
Three small Moon rovers have been put through rigorous tests to demonstrate their ability to drive autonomously and function as a team without explicit commands from operators. The rovers will be deployed on a future Moon mission and used to map and explore the lunar surface using ground-penetrating radar.
In Argentina, researchers have discovered ancient art that could be thousands of years older than previously estimated, making them the oldest cave art in Patagonia. Radiocarbon dating of some of the plant-based pigments used to draw abstract shapes suggests that some of the art was created up to 8,200 years ago.
The British Wildlife Photography Awards have crowned a drifting football that has been colonized below the waterline by goose barnacles as the overall winner. The image raises awareness about the journey of the ball and the importance of protecting the environment.
In Iceland, a fresh eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula has resulted in molten lava flowing out of a new ground fissure and heading towards the nearby town of Grindavík. Researchers have been closely monitoring volcanic activity in the area.
Lastly, a night-time snap of a long-tongued bat preparing to feed on a banana plant in Costa Rica has won the London Camera Exchange Photographer of the Year competition. The image highlights the importance of preserving natural habitats and the impact of human activities on wildlife.
That's all for this month's stunning science images. Join us next month for more exciting and thought-provoking visuals.
Source: <https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00941-9>
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