Lake Erie Algae Bloom Regarded as Worst in Decades
A massive algae bloom on the waters of Lake Erie in the U.S. is believed to pose a significant threat to aquatic life forms in the lake. The algae, which is toxic, is sucking the oxygen out of the water. According to reports, this is the worst bloom since the early 1960s. Scientists have also revealed that the bloom is caused, primarily, by the phosphorous from agricultural waste that is washed into rivers.
According to NASA Earth Observatory, such blooms were common in the lake’s shallow western basin in the 1950s and 60s. Phosphorus from farms, sewage, and industry fertilized the waters so that huge algae blooms developed year after year.
However, the condition improved in the 1970s when regulations were imposed on agricultural and sewage treatment procedures to limit the amount of phosphorus released. However, this year, a giant bloom has spread across the western basin once again. The particular reasons for the bloom are complex but may be related to a rainy spring and invasive mussels. Continue reading »
Photo of Holden Crater on Mars
Holden crater is 87 miles wide, filling the left side of the image, while to the right is the remaining part of Eberswalde crater, which has a diameter of about 40 miles. They are located in the southern highlands of Mars. (NASA)
Space Hardware Transformed into Art
An Apollo lunar module propellant tank sits on display in Dale Cox III’s Seattle-area backyard, alongside a more traditional sculpture. The tank might have been sent to the moon if NASA went ahead with Apollo 18, 19 and 20, as originally planned. Instead, it’s been turned into an art installation. (Alan Boyle / msnbc.com) Continue reading »
Photo of the Day: Me, Myself & Irene
Hurricane Irene (top center) churns over the Bahamas in this MODIS satellite image. Irene, now a Category 3 storm with winds of 120 miles per hour, is projected to possibly clip the Outer Banks region of North Carolina before moving up the eastern seaboard of the U.S. (NASA via Getty Images)
Space Colony Art from the 1970s
A couple of space colony summer studies were conducted at NASA Ames in the 1970s. Colonies housing about 10,000 people were designed. A number of artistic renderings of the concepts were made.
