Official account of the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (#EAPS) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (#MIT).

Cambridge, MA
University observatories like MIT's Wallace Astrophysical Observatory play a key role in providing students hands-on astronomy experience and important research opportunities that larger observatories may not have time for. buff.ly/iDnvv3L
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Congrats to EAPS grad student Angelina Serafini for receiving a Dwornik Award for best grad poster presentation at this year's Lunar and Planetary Science Conference! She used moon samples to constrain the strength of the ancient lunar magnetic field. buff.ly/iVM9rX6
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Is there another period in Earth's past where the climate changed as quickly as it is today? Geologic records like ice cores and ocean sediments show that the last 50 years warmed faster than any other 50-year period in at least 2,000 years. buff.ly/4ilPYcc
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While the concrete is hot today in Cambridge, it's not to blame for rising global temps. Urban heat islands only change estimates of how much the world has warmed since 1900 by 0.01°C. Cities don't cover enough of the earth to compete with CO2 emissions. buff.ly/uXzzCpS
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A new identification algorithm named JetLag, created by former EAPS Postdoc Louis Rivoire, uses a fresh approach to jet stream identification by looking at how these fast winds travel through the atmosphere over time. buff.ly/2W0MBd4
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Congrats to EAPS Professor Ben Weiss on being elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences! He and EAPS alumni Cynthia Ebinger join an outstanding class of leaders from academia, the arts, industry, public policy and research. buff.ly/tZapV35
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New model PlanetWaves predicts wave behavior on other planets. It found that winds on Titan could stir up huge waves on its light liquid hydrocarbon lakes, while on lava planets like 55-Cancri e it would take hurricane-force winds to move the lake surface. buff.ly/t7s2Byc
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Researchers at MIT are revealing new populations of asteroids, including smaller ones that could pose a danger to our space infrastructure. Prof Julien de Wit and research scientists Artem Burdanov and Saverio Cambioni break it down on GBH buff.ly/yM36eYK
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EAPS professor Julien de Wit is this year's keynote speaker for Beyond the Cradle, where leaders, researchers and visionaries across the space industry come together to envision a new space age. MIT community members can register FOR FREE: buff.ly/9ByJA1d
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Fast-food ocean: rising ocean temperatures due to climate change may change the nutritional value of phytoplankton from protein-rich to carb-heavy. It's unclear how this will transmit throughout the marine food web. buff.ly/dVQPgjr
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Scientists from WHOI, Columbia and MIT have identified major compounds released by ocean phytoplankton that play a key role in returning carbon to the atmosphere, helping build realistic representations of marine microbial communities in the carbon cycle. buff.ly/AkdaCc0
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MIT is becoming a hub for planetary defense. As observations of potentially dangerous asteroids and comets improve, it is critical to bring together detection, risk assessment and mitigation under one roof. buff.ly/qXYKJmn
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Good news - asteroid 2024 YR4 will safely pass by the moon. Andy Rivkin '91 and EAPS prof Julien de Wit secured time on the JWST to get the best look at the asteroid's path and confirmed that, while it pass by closely in 2032, it does not pose a threat. buff.ly/uVufpdj
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Marine snow — the dust and detritus from decomposing organisms — is the main vehicle by which the ocean stores carbon. But hitchhiking bacteria may prevent it from sinking into the deep ocean, limiting how much carbon the ocean can actually store. buff.ly/UtKV7Kq
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By running fluid through rock samples, EAPS geophysicists found that the flow quickly slows as the porosity and permeability changes, but does not stop. This research demonstrates the potential of carbon mineralization methods for carbon sequestration. buff.ly/5ouK1HG
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When an earthquake reverses course and travels back through an area it's known as a "boomerang" earthquake. Scientists have assumed that they required complex fault zones to happen, but new research out of EAPS finds they can also occur on simple faults. buff.ly/TO8WhiR
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We often think of astrobiology as looking outwards towards other planets in the search for life. But recent MIT-WHOI Joint Program Student Sabrina Elkassas argues that there are plenty ways that astrobiology research supports sustainability here on Earth. buff.ly/bvOLO2j
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Join EAPS Professor Julien de Wit online THIS Thursday, Nov 20, to learn how exoplanetary science is powering planetary defense! The MIT Alumni Forum is a FREE series for alumni and current students and postdocs. Register here: buff.ly/qQ0ZO1y @scienceMIT
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Unfortunately the poor weather means we won't be able to see MIT Henge this month. But don't fret, because the next opportunity will be in January! We'll see you then.
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Watch the sun cross the infinite! MIT Henge is happening on Monday, November 10th. Join EAPS Professor Richard Binzel as the sun perfectly aligns with the Infinite Corridor, with refreshments to follow. buff.ly/mHTbRS9
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Check out the new @MITMuseum art installation Remembering the Future, by Janet Echelman. This work, which depicts climate futures through the use of colored fiber pathways, was informed by modeling work done by EAPS professor Raffalele Ferrari. buff.ly/EgUNDcd
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By measuring how waves traveled through the Earth following the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquake sequence, new research has found that the upper crust in the region recovered quickly but the mid-level crust experienced ongoing change months after. buff.ly/hbx7Jdr
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Warming oceans may threaten one of the most abundant photosynthetic organisms in the ocean. Paper author EAPS and CS3 researcher Stephanie Dutkiewicz says we need to rethink how we model phytoplankton responses to climate change. buff.ly/Fs8FO1z
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From @PhysicsToday Advancements in AI have the potential for breakthroughs in earthquake forecasting that can help improve data analysis and mitigating risk - as long as scientists understand the challenges and constraints. buff.ly/vWYt2ry
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For microbial organisms living in the oceans, adapting to different colors during photosynthesis offers an evolutionary advantage and influences geographic distribution on a global scale. Explore microbial movement in the ocean with this NASA StoryMap buff.ly/DjyfXjj
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New work from the CBIOMES collaboration combines genetic data and the Darwin ecosystem model to better understand the role marine microbial diversity plays in global carbon cycles. buff.ly/w7Q2wlX
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Congratulations to our Class of 2025 advanced degree recipients! It was wonderful to celebrate with you at yesterday’s ceremony, and we can’t wait to see what amazing things you do! #MIT2025 Photo credit: Steph Stevens
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Tonight 🕠 5:30ET—in person or online! Susan Solomon shares how rigorous science can inform solutions to our most pressing challenges🌍 JOIN US: buff.ly/a1aRFgn @mit_esi #InspiringScience #Sustainability #EnvironmentalPolicy #ClimateSolutions #MITEvents #ThisIsMIT
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Our Course 1-12 with @mit_cee preps students for high-impact climate and sustainability careers. Ananda F. ’25 shares why climate-major.mit.edu was the perfect fit. @MITEngineering @ScienceMIT #ClimateJobs #CollegeMajors #ClimateInnovation #STEMCareers #SustainabilityStudies
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Author's night Apr 23! Solvable: how we healed the Earth and how we can do it again — with Susan Solomon @MIT! To register: bit.ly/4jvY7I9 @mit_esi @mit_cs3 @ScienceMIT @ChemistryMIT #InspiringScience #Sustainability #EnvironmentalPolicy #ClimateScience #ScienceImpact
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Congrats to Professor Noelle Selin for being elected a #AAASFellow! She’s being recognized for leadership in atmospheric chemistry modeling and integrating it into technology, policy, and sustainability science.
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During today’s @MIT_alumni 24-Hour Challenge, join thousands of MIT alumni, parents, friends, and students in support. Donations to @ScienceMIT directly support the fundamental and critical research across our department. #MIT24 buff.ly/3wwpcYu
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#artfinity @artsatmit Feb 21, 7:30pm! Professor Susan Solomon and composer Patrick Harlin explore themes of environmental awareness, discovery, and insights from artistic and scientific perspectives in our changing world. buff.ly/4i8uxax #thisismit #artsfestival
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EAPS Prof Ben Weiss is one of many contributors to this @PNASNews special feature on the scientific value of the Mars sample return. Read about how return samples can tell us things like the lifetime or direction of Mars' lost magnetic field. buff.ly/404aPFn
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Check out this beautiful @NatureAstronomy cover, highlighting the work of EAPS PhD student Jared Bryan! Jared used his seismology knowledge to discover how hot Jupiters move between orbits: buff.ly/3ZeAJaj Cover: Carlos Villamil, Julien de Wit, Bethany Vukomanovic
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Are you ready for MITHenge? Hear about our future as a multi-planetary species or take a tour of the solar system with EAPS Professor Richard Binzel before the big event starts this weekend, courtesy @MindHandHeart buff.ly/3NSTqtx
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It’s not too late! Register to attend the Oct 23 Carlson Lecture featuring Dorthe Dahl-Jensen, in-person or online! Free. Families & students welcome. Pre-lecture exhibits by MIT students and scientists start at 5:30 @NEAQ Simons Theatre. #MassSTEMWeek buff.ly/4eHi78e
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From @SpaceTelescope and @NASAHubble: New images of the planet Uranus taken by NASA's New Horizons Spacecraft are dimmer than predicted, helping refine our understanding of exoplanet imaging. buff.ly/4h6iTNy
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You have until October 24th to see a comet with the naked eye! Tim Brothers from the Wallace Observatory recommends giving your eyes time to adjust and to get away from lights if you want to go see this once-in-a-lifetime event. buff.ly/3UebEcJ
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Congrats to EAPS graduate student Daniel Ortega-Arroyo for being named JSG student of the year! Given by the Journal of Structural Geology, it recognizes an outstanding paper with key contributions from a student. buff.ly/486PNtu
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Oct 23rd — Ice Cores Tell Tales of Past Sea Level Change: Dr. Dorthe Dahl-Jensen reveals climate secrets stored deep in Greenland ice at the 2024 Carlson Lecture. Free; families and students welcome! Register now! buff.ly/3U8wZnF @NEAQ @MassSTEMWeek #MassSTEMWeek
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Congrats to EAPS alumna Marilyn Cisar '76 on receiving a Bronze Beaver Award from @MIT_alumni! This award is the highest honor the association can bestow on a member, recognizing distinguished service by active alumni. buff.ly/3U7RTUb
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Climate models give us a peak at what the Earth looks like under different climate conditions. Come see a model in action as part of #CSF2024 @CambSciFest buff.ly/3Zrew9r
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From @SkyandTelescope Earth's new minimoon is arriving this weekend and leaving at the end of November. While we won't be able to see it, EAPS Professor Richard Binzel thinks they could make good stepping stones to get to Mars. buff.ly/3XD1djC
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#CSF2024 has officially begun! All week, visit the Infinite Corridor third floor to become a planetary explorer with a self-guided tour of our solar system with the Infinite Solar System display. @CambSciFest buff.ly/4exGC71
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Learn about asteroids with the MIT paleomagnetism lab or become a scientist on a sampling cruise through a VR experience with GEOTRACES at the #CSF2024 carnival this Sunday! @CambSciFest buff.ly/3BdzeQ7
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One hundred years after reaching Earth, the Johnstown meteorite returned to the Colorado town it landed near. EAPS Prof Richard Binzel helped organize the centennial milestone; a portion of his career was spent studying the asteroid it originated from. buff.ly/4d1cFfD
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Congratulations to Sara Seager for being one of this year's Kavli Prize Laureates! @KavliPrize @scienceMIT buff.ly/4b0cbV7
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Congratulations to EAPS faculty members Andrew Babbin, Tim Cronin, and Brent Minchew for being granted tenure this year! buff.ly/4aqvne9
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From EAPS to NASA - Alumni Angel Mojarro talks about his research on lipids @NASAGoddard, the chance to work on the samples brought back from OSIRIS-REx, and those who've inspired him in this early career scientist spotlight. @gsfc_ngaps buff.ly/3x9TekG
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During today's #MIT24 hour challenge, give to EAPS through the School of Science and support students studying our planet and those beyond. @MIT_alumni bit.ly/48Wzyhl
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The cosmic alignment known as MIThenge is happening January 30 and 31 (weather permitting!). Refresh your etiquette lessons for the event, courtesy EAPS Professor Richard Binzel and @MindHandHeart bit.ly/42lx4rc
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It was so great to see EAPS community members, old and new, in San Francisco for #AGU23! A big shout out to everyone who participated in this year's conference and supported those presenting. We can't wait to see you again next year in Washington, DC.
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“The point is not the act of speaking, it's what is taken away afterward." Light pollution is impacting the research that can be done @MIT_WallaceObs. Three MIT undergrads spoke before the MA State House about how important seeing the night sky is. bit.ly/3TvyKf4
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Instrument checks on the Psyche spacecraft are delivering a string of successes! In addition to testing the magnetometer by measuring the spacecraft's magnetic field, the cameras have sent back the first images in a milestone called "first light". go.nasa.gov/3NeUwji
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