NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center has issued its fire weather outlook for Wednesday, February 18, 2026, and Thursday, February 19, 2026. Large swaths of the central United States face critical conditions due to gusty winds and low relative humidity. Image via NOAA.
Fire weather continues for much of the central US
Much of the central United States has experienced an early spring warm-up over the past few days. But with the added warmth came gusty winds and low relative humidity, a perfect recipe for fire weather. NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center issued areas of critical and elevated fire weather on February 18, 2026, for much of the high Southern Plains and most of Iowa including parts of the surrounding states. The panhandle of Oklahoma and across the border into Kansas already battled wildfires for most of the day on Tuesday.
Wildfires can start in various ways, and one thing you can do to help over the next few days is to delay any burning. One of the fires in the Southern Plains on Tuesday started after a seven-vehicle crash, while another appeared to have started from power lines that blew down in heavy winds.
Farmers were plowing fire lines in Oklahoma in an attempt to protect their livestock.
For the high Southern Plains, NOAA said on Wednesday morning:
As downslope flow peaks in intensity by mid to late afternoon, widespread 25 mph sustained westerly surface winds, with higher gusts, will overlap with 10-15% relative humidity (perhaps lower in some locales). The best chance for these conditions will be over northeast New Mexico into the Texas Panhandle and immediate surrounding areas.
Given very receptive fuels, high-end Critical conditions, supporting dangerous/rapid wildfire-spread potential, are expected. While Extremely Critical conditions are not expected to be widespread like the yesterday, spotty Extremely Critical conditions may be observed.
Otherwise, 15-20% relative humidity will overlap with 15-20 mph sustained west-southwesterly winds for several hours across much of the southern High Plains, warranting broad Elevated/Critical highlights.
For portions of the Midwest, NOAA said:
Before the surface low undergoes significant weakening, strong gradient flow will persist during the afternoon, when boundary-layer mixing will support a belt of overlapping 25 mph sustained westerly surface winds and 15-25% relative humidity for at least a few hours. These conditions will most likely be observed over central Iowa and immediate surrounding areas.
Such conditions are high-end Critical for the Midwest, especially when considering that yesterday’s precipitation has not yielded meaningful accumulations, which have also been lacking in the past few weeks.
Rapid, dangerous wildfire spread is possible wherever dry fuel beds exist, and a sparse instance of Extremely Critical conditions cannot be ruled out.
Stay weather aware and keep up to date with your local National Weather Service office for changing conditions.
Bottom line: Critical fire weather will threaten much of the central United States on Wednesday and Thursday. Wildfires were already plaguing areas in Oklahoma and Kansas on Tuesday.
NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center has issued its fire weather outlook for Wednesday, February 18, 2026, and Thursday, February 19, 2026. Large swaths of the central United States face critical conditions due to gusty winds and low relative humidity. Image via NOAA.
Fire weather continues for much of the central US
Much of the central United States has experienced an early spring warm-up over the past few days. But with the added warmth came gusty winds and low relative humidity, a perfect recipe for fire weather. NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center issued areas of critical and elevated fire weather on February 18, 2026, for much of the high Southern Plains and most of Iowa including parts of the surrounding states. The panhandle of Oklahoma and across the border into Kansas already battled wildfires for most of the day on Tuesday.
Wildfires can start in various ways, and one thing you can do to help over the next few days is to delay any burning. One of the fires in the Southern Plains on Tuesday started after a seven-vehicle crash, while another appeared to have started from power lines that blew down in heavy winds.
Farmers were plowing fire lines in Oklahoma in an attempt to protect their livestock.
For the high Southern Plains, NOAA said on Wednesday morning:
As downslope flow peaks in intensity by mid to late afternoon, widespread 25 mph sustained westerly surface winds, with higher gusts, will overlap with 10-15% relative humidity (perhaps lower in some locales). The best chance for these conditions will be over northeast New Mexico into the Texas Panhandle and immediate surrounding areas.
Given very receptive fuels, high-end Critical conditions, supporting dangerous/rapid wildfire-spread potential, are expected. While Extremely Critical conditions are not expected to be widespread like the yesterday, spotty Extremely Critical conditions may be observed.
Otherwise, 15-20% relative humidity will overlap with 15-20 mph sustained west-southwesterly winds for several hours across much of the southern High Plains, warranting broad Elevated/Critical highlights.
For portions of the Midwest, NOAA said:
Before the surface low undergoes significant weakening, strong gradient flow will persist during the afternoon, when boundary-layer mixing will support a belt of overlapping 25 mph sustained westerly surface winds and 15-25% relative humidity for at least a few hours. These conditions will most likely be observed over central Iowa and immediate surrounding areas.
Such conditions are high-end Critical for the Midwest, especially when considering that yesterday’s precipitation has not yielded meaningful accumulations, which have also been lacking in the past few weeks.
Rapid, dangerous wildfire spread is possible wherever dry fuel beds exist, and a sparse instance of Extremely Critical conditions cannot be ruled out.
Stay weather aware and keep up to date with your local National Weather Service office for changing conditions.
Bottom line: Critical fire weather will threaten much of the central United States on Wednesday and Thursday. Wildfires were already plaguing areas in Oklahoma and Kansas on Tuesday.
Simulated movement and speed (indicated by the length of the arrows) of objects surrounding the Local Group of galaxies, which is in the center of the image. The Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies are the main players in our Local Group. Scientists said our Local Group sits in a sheet of dark matter with voids on either side. These voids allow more distant galaxies to move away from our pull of gravity. Image via Ewoud Wempe and collaborators/ University of Groningen.
According to a team of scientists led by the University of Groningen, in the Netherlands, this 32-million-light-year-long sheet of dark matter encases both our home galaxy and the entire nearby Local Group of galaxies.
The scientists said on January 27, 2026, that they used a detailed computer simulation of local gravity conditions to uncover the structure of this sheet. They found that two huge voids sandwich the mass of dark matter. And this structure seems to explain why nearby large galaxies – other than Andromeda – are fleeing the Milky Way, instead of being pulled toward us.
When accounting for all the mass in the universe, 85% of it is dark matter, while just 15% of it is normal matter (that which we can see). Dark matter doesn’t reflect light, but it does interact gravitationally with itself and with regular matter and energy. So that means that where it clumps and gathers at high or low densities shapes the underlying geometry of the universe.
The authors argue their computer simulation of gravitational conditions from the Big Bang to the present results in a dark matter distribution that carries almost all other galaxies away from the Local Group. Astronomers call this expansion of the universe the Hubble flow. At the same time, the model shows why the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies appear to be on a collision course. From the paper:
…The observed quiet local Hubble flow can be consistent with the halo masses implied for Andromeda and the Milky Way … only if the mass distribution is strongly concentrated in a sheet out to at least 10 megaparsecs (32 million light-years), with substantially underdense regions both above and below this Supergalactic Plane.
Edwin Hubble and the expanding universe
In the early 20th century, astronomer Edwin Hubble discovered the Milky Way is just one of many galaxies in the universe. He also found that almost all galaxies are moving away from us. This outward flow was a key clue that the cosmos began with the Big Bang and has been expanding ever since.
However, the Andromeda Galaxy was and remains an exception. It, the Milky Way and the dozens of other smaller members of the Local Group, seemed immune to the force pushing the rest of the cosmos apart. Now a group of European astrophysicists claim to have cracked this mystery. Lead author Ewoud Wempe of the University of Groningen said it’s the first time anyone has attempted such an elaborate computer simulation of the evolving universe. Wempe said:
We are exploring all possible local configurations of the early universe that ultimately could lead to the Local Group. It is great that we now have a model that is consistent with the current cosmological model on the one hand, and with the dynamics of our local environment on the other.
A simulation starting with Cosmic Microwave Background
The computer started its simulation with the early universe. It began with tiny deviations that statistically matched the oldest light we can detect, the Cosmic Microwave Background. The areas chosen for the simulation eventually transformed into galaxy formations that match our local conditions of distance and speed. But these areas also had to move like the Local Group does with respect to more distant galaxies.
The computer found hundreds of matches for the Milky Way-Andromeda system. Inside these areas, a reduced Hubble flow allows and encourages galaxy clusters like the Local Group. Yet outside them – at much larger distances – galaxies rush away, sometimes at speeds exceeding the Hubble flow.
By combining the hundreds of simulations of dark matter distributions resulting in systems matching the Milky Way and Andromeda, the researchers created the best fit for what we actually see around us. The end result is a dark matter environment in the form of a sheet matching the distribution of the galaxies in the Local Group.
Left: A top-down view of the Local Group simulation, with the Milky Way and Andromeda as the brightest blobs. Light blue dots are 31 nearby galaxies. The pinkish-purple color represents the distribution of dark matter. Arrows show the velocity of dark matter relative to a uniformly expanding universe. Right: A side view of the Local Group, revealing the sheet structure. Image via Max Planck Institute.
Milky Way and Andromeda vs. the universe
In our cosmic neighborhood, the simulations resulted in predictions of dark matter concentrated into a sheet extending well beyond the region of the Local Group. It didn’t stop there. The simulation even showed there must be large low-density regions on either flattened side of the dark matter sheet. These areas do exist and are known as the Local Voids.
The simulation even predicted the flattened distribution of far more distant galaxies in the Local Supercluster without knowing of its existence.
Researchers created a virtual twin of the Local Group that explains how the universe came to look the way it does. Also, they’ve answered a question that’s excited and perplexed astronomers for the better part of a century. As co-author Amina Helmi of the University of Groningen explained:
I am excited to see that, based purely on the motions of galaxies, we can determine a mass distribution that corresponds to the positions of galaxies within and just outside the Local Group.
Bottom line: A new computer simulation shows the Milky Way Galaxy is inside an enormous dark matter sheet. This sheet lies between two voids. The geometry explains our Local Group and why more distant galaxies aren’t pulled in toward us.
Simulated movement and speed (indicated by the length of the arrows) of objects surrounding the Local Group of galaxies, which is in the center of the image. The Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies are the main players in our Local Group. Scientists said our Local Group sits in a sheet of dark matter with voids on either side. These voids allow more distant galaxies to move away from our pull of gravity. Image via Ewoud Wempe and collaborators/ University of Groningen.
According to a team of scientists led by the University of Groningen, in the Netherlands, this 32-million-light-year-long sheet of dark matter encases both our home galaxy and the entire nearby Local Group of galaxies.
The scientists said on January 27, 2026, that they used a detailed computer simulation of local gravity conditions to uncover the structure of this sheet. They found that two huge voids sandwich the mass of dark matter. And this structure seems to explain why nearby large galaxies – other than Andromeda – are fleeing the Milky Way, instead of being pulled toward us.
When accounting for all the mass in the universe, 85% of it is dark matter, while just 15% of it is normal matter (that which we can see). Dark matter doesn’t reflect light, but it does interact gravitationally with itself and with regular matter and energy. So that means that where it clumps and gathers at high or low densities shapes the underlying geometry of the universe.
The authors argue their computer simulation of gravitational conditions from the Big Bang to the present results in a dark matter distribution that carries almost all other galaxies away from the Local Group. Astronomers call this expansion of the universe the Hubble flow. At the same time, the model shows why the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies appear to be on a collision course. From the paper:
…The observed quiet local Hubble flow can be consistent with the halo masses implied for Andromeda and the Milky Way … only if the mass distribution is strongly concentrated in a sheet out to at least 10 megaparsecs (32 million light-years), with substantially underdense regions both above and below this Supergalactic Plane.
Edwin Hubble and the expanding universe
In the early 20th century, astronomer Edwin Hubble discovered the Milky Way is just one of many galaxies in the universe. He also found that almost all galaxies are moving away from us. This outward flow was a key clue that the cosmos began with the Big Bang and has been expanding ever since.
However, the Andromeda Galaxy was and remains an exception. It, the Milky Way and the dozens of other smaller members of the Local Group, seemed immune to the force pushing the rest of the cosmos apart. Now a group of European astrophysicists claim to have cracked this mystery. Lead author Ewoud Wempe of the University of Groningen said it’s the first time anyone has attempted such an elaborate computer simulation of the evolving universe. Wempe said:
We are exploring all possible local configurations of the early universe that ultimately could lead to the Local Group. It is great that we now have a model that is consistent with the current cosmological model on the one hand, and with the dynamics of our local environment on the other.
A simulation starting with Cosmic Microwave Background
The computer started its simulation with the early universe. It began with tiny deviations that statistically matched the oldest light we can detect, the Cosmic Microwave Background. The areas chosen for the simulation eventually transformed into galaxy formations that match our local conditions of distance and speed. But these areas also had to move like the Local Group does with respect to more distant galaxies.
The computer found hundreds of matches for the Milky Way-Andromeda system. Inside these areas, a reduced Hubble flow allows and encourages galaxy clusters like the Local Group. Yet outside them – at much larger distances – galaxies rush away, sometimes at speeds exceeding the Hubble flow.
By combining the hundreds of simulations of dark matter distributions resulting in systems matching the Milky Way and Andromeda, the researchers created the best fit for what we actually see around us. The end result is a dark matter environment in the form of a sheet matching the distribution of the galaxies in the Local Group.
Left: A top-down view of the Local Group simulation, with the Milky Way and Andromeda as the brightest blobs. Light blue dots are 31 nearby galaxies. The pinkish-purple color represents the distribution of dark matter. Arrows show the velocity of dark matter relative to a uniformly expanding universe. Right: A side view of the Local Group, revealing the sheet structure. Image via Max Planck Institute.
Milky Way and Andromeda vs. the universe
In our cosmic neighborhood, the simulations resulted in predictions of dark matter concentrated into a sheet extending well beyond the region of the Local Group. It didn’t stop there. The simulation even showed there must be large low-density regions on either flattened side of the dark matter sheet. These areas do exist and are known as the Local Voids.
The simulation even predicted the flattened distribution of far more distant galaxies in the Local Supercluster without knowing of its existence.
Researchers created a virtual twin of the Local Group that explains how the universe came to look the way it does. Also, they’ve answered a question that’s excited and perplexed astronomers for the better part of a century. As co-author Amina Helmi of the University of Groningen explained:
I am excited to see that, based purely on the motions of galaxies, we can determine a mass distribution that corresponds to the positions of galaxies within and just outside the Local Group.
Bottom line: A new computer simulation shows the Milky Way Galaxy is inside an enormous dark matter sheet. This sheet lies between two voids. The geometry explains our Local Group and why more distant galaxies aren’t pulled in toward us.
You can find Cassiopeia the Queen in the northwest in the evening around the month of February. It’s one of the easiest constellations to spot! It has the shape of an M or W. If you have a dark sky, you can also look above Cassiopeia for a famous binocular object, the Double Cluster in Perseus. Chart via EarthSky.
Cassiopeia the Queen in late winter and early spring
On late northern winter evenings and throughout spring, Cassiopeia the Queen descends in her throne in the northwest after nightfall. Cassiopeia is one of the easiest constellations to spot because of its distinctive shape. Cassiopeia looks like the letter W or M. Look for the Queen as your sky gets dark in February and March. She’ll be lower in the northwest as spring begins to unfold. For those in the northern U.S. and Canada, Cassiopeia is circumpolar, or above the horizon all night every night.
The stars of Cassiopeia
Cassiopeia is home to five bright stars that form the W shape. Some describe these stars as outlining the chair – or throne – she sits upon. If you’re viewing Cassiopeia as the letter W, the stars, from left to right, are Segin, Ruchbah, Gamma Cassiopeiae, Schedar and Caph.
Cassiopeia is opposite the Big Dipper in the northern sky. That is, the two constellations lie on opposite sides of the pole star, Polaris. So when Cassiopeia is high in the sky, as it is on evenings from about September through February, the Big Dipper is low in the sky. Every March, when the Dipper is ascending in the northeast, getting ready to appear prominently again in the evening sky, Cassiopeia is descending in the northwest.
The Big Dipper and Cassiopeia circle around Polaris, the North Star, completing one rotation in 23 hours and 56 minutes. Both constellations are circumpolar at 41° north latitude and all latitudes farther north. Image via Mjchael/ Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 2.5).
Neighboring star clusters
If you have a dark sky, look across the border of Cassiopeia into Perseus the Hero for a famous binocular object. It’s the Double Cluster in Perseus. They are open star clusters, each of which consists of young stars still moving together from the primordial cloud of gas and dust that gave birth to them.
In fact, these clusters have a unique set of mismatched names: H and Chi Persei. Their names are from two different alphabets, the Greek and the Roman. Stars have Greek letter names, but most star clusters don’t. Johann Bayer (1572-1625) gave Chi Persei – the cluster on the top – its Greek letter name. Then, it’s said, he ran out of Greek letters. That’s when he used a Roman letter – the letter H – to name the other cluster.
Upside-down Cassiopeia, as depicted on Mercator celestial globe in 1551. Image via Harvard Map Collection/ Wikipedia (public domain).
Lore of the Queen
In sky lore and in Greek mythology, Cassiopeia was a beautiful and vain queen of Ethiopia. It’s said that she committed the sin of pride by boasting that both she and her daughter Andromeda were more beautiful than Nereids, or sea nymphs.
Her boast angered Poseidon, god of the sea, who sent a sea monster (Cetus the Whale) to ravage the kingdom. To pacify the monster, Cassiopeia’s daughter, Princess Andromeda, was left tied to a rock by the sea. Then, when Cetus was about to devour her, Perseus the Hero happened by on Pegasus the Winged Horse.
Then, Perseus rescued the princess, and all lived happily … and the gods were pleased, so all of these characters were elevated to the heavens as stars.
But – because of her vanity – Cassiopeia suffered an indignity. At some times of the night or year, this constellation has more the shape of the letter M, and you might imagine the Queen reclining on her starry throne. Meanwhile, at other times of the year or night – as in the wee hours between midnight and dawn in February and March – Cassiopeia’s Chair dips below the celestial pole. And then this constellation appears to us on Earth more like the letter W.
That’s when the Lady of the Chair – as she is sometimes called – is upside-down and said to hang on for dear life. If Cassiopeia the Queen lets go, she will drop from the sky into the ocean below, where the Nereids must still be waiting.
Bottom line: The constellation Cassiopeia the Queen has the distinct shape of a W or M. You’ll find her descending in her throne on late northern winter evenings and throughout spring nights.
You can find Cassiopeia the Queen in the northwest in the evening around the month of February. It’s one of the easiest constellations to spot! It has the shape of an M or W. If you have a dark sky, you can also look above Cassiopeia for a famous binocular object, the Double Cluster in Perseus. Chart via EarthSky.
Cassiopeia the Queen in late winter and early spring
On late northern winter evenings and throughout spring, Cassiopeia the Queen descends in her throne in the northwest after nightfall. Cassiopeia is one of the easiest constellations to spot because of its distinctive shape. Cassiopeia looks like the letter W or M. Look for the Queen as your sky gets dark in February and March. She’ll be lower in the northwest as spring begins to unfold. For those in the northern U.S. and Canada, Cassiopeia is circumpolar, or above the horizon all night every night.
The stars of Cassiopeia
Cassiopeia is home to five bright stars that form the W shape. Some describe these stars as outlining the chair – or throne – she sits upon. If you’re viewing Cassiopeia as the letter W, the stars, from left to right, are Segin, Ruchbah, Gamma Cassiopeiae, Schedar and Caph.
Cassiopeia is opposite the Big Dipper in the northern sky. That is, the two constellations lie on opposite sides of the pole star, Polaris. So when Cassiopeia is high in the sky, as it is on evenings from about September through February, the Big Dipper is low in the sky. Every March, when the Dipper is ascending in the northeast, getting ready to appear prominently again in the evening sky, Cassiopeia is descending in the northwest.
The Big Dipper and Cassiopeia circle around Polaris, the North Star, completing one rotation in 23 hours and 56 minutes. Both constellations are circumpolar at 41° north latitude and all latitudes farther north. Image via Mjchael/ Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 2.5).
Neighboring star clusters
If you have a dark sky, look across the border of Cassiopeia into Perseus the Hero for a famous binocular object. It’s the Double Cluster in Perseus. They are open star clusters, each of which consists of young stars still moving together from the primordial cloud of gas and dust that gave birth to them.
In fact, these clusters have a unique set of mismatched names: H and Chi Persei. Their names are from two different alphabets, the Greek and the Roman. Stars have Greek letter names, but most star clusters don’t. Johann Bayer (1572-1625) gave Chi Persei – the cluster on the top – its Greek letter name. Then, it’s said, he ran out of Greek letters. That’s when he used a Roman letter – the letter H – to name the other cluster.
Upside-down Cassiopeia, as depicted on Mercator celestial globe in 1551. Image via Harvard Map Collection/ Wikipedia (public domain).
Lore of the Queen
In sky lore and in Greek mythology, Cassiopeia was a beautiful and vain queen of Ethiopia. It’s said that she committed the sin of pride by boasting that both she and her daughter Andromeda were more beautiful than Nereids, or sea nymphs.
Her boast angered Poseidon, god of the sea, who sent a sea monster (Cetus the Whale) to ravage the kingdom. To pacify the monster, Cassiopeia’s daughter, Princess Andromeda, was left tied to a rock by the sea. Then, when Cetus was about to devour her, Perseus the Hero happened by on Pegasus the Winged Horse.
Then, Perseus rescued the princess, and all lived happily … and the gods were pleased, so all of these characters were elevated to the heavens as stars.
But – because of her vanity – Cassiopeia suffered an indignity. At some times of the night or year, this constellation has more the shape of the letter M, and you might imagine the Queen reclining on her starry throne. Meanwhile, at other times of the year or night – as in the wee hours between midnight and dawn in February and March – Cassiopeia’s Chair dips below the celestial pole. And then this constellation appears to us on Earth more like the letter W.
That’s when the Lady of the Chair – as she is sometimes called – is upside-down and said to hang on for dear life. If Cassiopeia the Queen lets go, she will drop from the sky into the ocean below, where the Nereids must still be waiting.
Bottom line: The constellation Cassiopeia the Queen has the distinct shape of a W or M. You’ll find her descending in her throne on late northern winter evenings and throughout spring nights.
View original. | The Mars Curiosity rover captured this image of the drill hole in the Cumberland mudstone that it first investigated back in 2013. A new study from NASA suggests the long-chain organic molecules it found in the rock – thought to have likely come from fatty acids and/or alkanes – can’t be explained by non-biological processes alone. Are these organics on Mars evidence of past life? Image via NASA/ JPL-Caltech/ MSSS.
NASA’s Curiosity rover found complex organic molecules on Mars. Scientists think they are the remains of fatty acids. Could ancient life have produced them?
The organics were surprisingly abundant in the mudstone before radiation began to destroy them, a new NASA-led study shows.
Non-biological sources don’t fully explain the abundance and complexity of the organics, the study says. But more work is needed to understand their origin.
Almost a year ago, NASA’s Curiosity rover found something quite intriguing: long-chain organic molecules that scientists said could have come from fatty acids and/or alkanes. Fatty acids are common in life on Earth. Could they be evidence for ancient martian life? That possibility just got another boost from an international team of researchers led by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. The researchers said on February 6, 2026, that additional studies of the data from Curiosity show that non-biological sources they had considered don’t fully explain the organics. They conclude, therefore, that a biological source is a reasonable hypothesis.
The paper proposes two possible explanations: hydrothermal synthesis of the molecules or an ancient biosphere of microorganisms.
Curiosity found the complex organics – long-chain fatty acids and/or alkanes – in mudstone rocks in Gale Crater. Curiosity has been exploring this crater since 2012. The crater used to hold a lake or series of lakes billions of years ago.
This still isn’t proof of past life on Mars. But it certainly adds to the growing hints that Mars might have once been home to microbial life (and still could be).
The researchers published their peer-reviewed findings in a new hypothesis paper in the journal Astrobiology on February 4, 2026.
NASA Study: Non-biologic Processes Don't Fully Explain Mars Organicsastrobiology.com/2026/02/nasa… #astrobiology #Mars
NASA first reported the tantalizing finding back in March 2025. The rover found small amounts of the long-chain organic molecules decane, undecane and dodecane in the mudstone samples it analyzed. The samples came from a fine-grained sedimentary mudstone rock nicknamed Cumberland. They were the largest organics that any Mars mission had discovered so far. The rover’s onboard lab analysis suggested they were likely the remains of fatty acids and/or alkanes.
That’s significant, because on Earth, fatty acids are mostly produced by living organisms. Geological process can create them too, though.
NASA’s Curiosity rover found the largest organic molecules on Mars yet. Did ancient life produce them? Video via NASA Goddard.
Rewinding the clock
The researchers wanted to know how much organic material was present in the rock before radiation from the sun destroyed it while hitting the surface. That would provide clues as to whether it was small amounts from sources such as meteorites or dust or larger amounts that would be more difficult to explain without biology.
The researchers used a combination of lab radiation experiments, mathematical modeling and data from Curiosity itself. This allowed them to “rewind the clock” about 80 million years. That’s how long the rock would have been exposed on the martian surface.
View larger. | Graphic depicting the long-chain organic molecules decane, undecane and dodecane. Image via NASA/ Dan Gallagher.
An abundance of organics on Mars
Intriguingly, the results showed the rock had an abundance of the organic molecules before radiation began to destroy them. That is difficult to explain without biology. The press release said:
As the non-biological sources they considered could not fully explain the abundance of organic compounds, it is therefore reasonable to hypothesize that living things could have formed them.
The measured abundance of long-chain alkanes and their possible carboxylic acid precursors found in the ancient Cumberland mudstone in Gale Crater would have been substantially higher before the onset of exposure to ionizing radiation approximately 80 million years ago. Based on recent radiolysis experiments, we estimate conservatively that the Cumberland mudstone would have contained 120–7700 ppm of long-chain alkanes and/or fatty acids before ionizing radiation exposure. Such a high concentration of large organic molecules in martian sedimentary rocks cannot be readily explained by the accretion of organics from carbon-rich interplanetary dust particles and meteorites, nor by the deposition of hypothetical haze-derived organics from an ancient martian atmosphere.
Hydrothermal activity or biology?
The study focuses on two primary possibilities. One is that the organics were formed by hydrothermal activity. However, analysis of the mudstone rock itself showed it had not experienced the high temperatures associated with hydrothermal activity. The researchers also considered serpentinization, a low-temperature metamorphic and hydration process where water reacts with ultramafic, olivine- and pyroxene-rich rocks from the Earth’s mantle, transforming them into serpentinite. But the rover didn’t find any telltale serpentine minerals in the rock. Also, if either of those two processes formed the organics, it must have occurred elsewhere, with water later transporting the organics to the Cumberland location.
It would also imply that there were abundant organics in the surrounding early Noachian (early Mars) rocks of Gale Crater. But only trace amounts have ever been detected so far.
The other, more exciting, possibility is that the organics, such as the former fatty acids, were the products of life, just as most of them on Earth are. The long-chain molecules are suggestive of an ancient martian biosphere of microorganisms. It is hard to assess that, however, because the parameters of the experiments with the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument on Curiosity made it difficult to detect both shorter and even longer-chain molecules. Scientists would need to compare them to the known long-chain molecules to more accurately assess their abundance.
View larger. | This Mastcam image from Curiosity shows the drilling target at the Cumberland mudstone on May 15, 2013. Image via NASA/ JPL-Caltech.
More study needed
A lot more study is required to further determine whether these organics really could be evidence of past life. For now, the paper concludes:
We agree with Carl Sagan’s claim that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence and understand that any purported detection of life on Mars will necessarily be met with intense scrutiny. In addition, in practice with established norms in the field of astrobiology, we note that the certainty of a life detection beyond Earth will require multiple lines of evidence. Nevertheless, our approach has led us to estimate that the Cumberland mudstone conservatively contained 120–7700 ppm of long-chain alkanes and/or fatty acids before exposure to ionizing radiation. We argue that such high concentrations of long-chain alkanes are inconsistent with a few known abiotic sources of organic molecules on ancient Mars.
To improve the ability to predict the types and concentrations of organic molecules that could have been preserved in ancient sedimentary rocks exposed to ionizing radiation at the martian surface – regardless of their origin – we recommend experimental studies that determine the radiolytic degradation rates of kerogens, alkanes and fatty acids in Cumberland-like Mars analogs under Mars-like conditions.
Bottom line: NASA’s Curiosity rover found complex organics on Mars, possibly remains of fatty acids. A new NASA study suggests they are difficult to explain without life.
View original. | The Mars Curiosity rover captured this image of the drill hole in the Cumberland mudstone that it first investigated back in 2013. A new study from NASA suggests the long-chain organic molecules it found in the rock – thought to have likely come from fatty acids and/or alkanes – can’t be explained by non-biological processes alone. Are these organics on Mars evidence of past life? Image via NASA/ JPL-Caltech/ MSSS.
NASA’s Curiosity rover found complex organic molecules on Mars. Scientists think they are the remains of fatty acids. Could ancient life have produced them?
The organics were surprisingly abundant in the mudstone before radiation began to destroy them, a new NASA-led study shows.
Non-biological sources don’t fully explain the abundance and complexity of the organics, the study says. But more work is needed to understand their origin.
Almost a year ago, NASA’s Curiosity rover found something quite intriguing: long-chain organic molecules that scientists said could have come from fatty acids and/or alkanes. Fatty acids are common in life on Earth. Could they be evidence for ancient martian life? That possibility just got another boost from an international team of researchers led by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. The researchers said on February 6, 2026, that additional studies of the data from Curiosity show that non-biological sources they had considered don’t fully explain the organics. They conclude, therefore, that a biological source is a reasonable hypothesis.
The paper proposes two possible explanations: hydrothermal synthesis of the molecules or an ancient biosphere of microorganisms.
Curiosity found the complex organics – long-chain fatty acids and/or alkanes – in mudstone rocks in Gale Crater. Curiosity has been exploring this crater since 2012. The crater used to hold a lake or series of lakes billions of years ago.
This still isn’t proof of past life on Mars. But it certainly adds to the growing hints that Mars might have once been home to microbial life (and still could be).
The researchers published their peer-reviewed findings in a new hypothesis paper in the journal Astrobiology on February 4, 2026.
NASA Study: Non-biologic Processes Don't Fully Explain Mars Organicsastrobiology.com/2026/02/nasa… #astrobiology #Mars
NASA first reported the tantalizing finding back in March 2025. The rover found small amounts of the long-chain organic molecules decane, undecane and dodecane in the mudstone samples it analyzed. The samples came from a fine-grained sedimentary mudstone rock nicknamed Cumberland. They were the largest organics that any Mars mission had discovered so far. The rover’s onboard lab analysis suggested they were likely the remains of fatty acids and/or alkanes.
That’s significant, because on Earth, fatty acids are mostly produced by living organisms. Geological process can create them too, though.
NASA’s Curiosity rover found the largest organic molecules on Mars yet. Did ancient life produce them? Video via NASA Goddard.
Rewinding the clock
The researchers wanted to know how much organic material was present in the rock before radiation from the sun destroyed it while hitting the surface. That would provide clues as to whether it was small amounts from sources such as meteorites or dust or larger amounts that would be more difficult to explain without biology.
The researchers used a combination of lab radiation experiments, mathematical modeling and data from Curiosity itself. This allowed them to “rewind the clock” about 80 million years. That’s how long the rock would have been exposed on the martian surface.
View larger. | Graphic depicting the long-chain organic molecules decane, undecane and dodecane. Image via NASA/ Dan Gallagher.
An abundance of organics on Mars
Intriguingly, the results showed the rock had an abundance of the organic molecules before radiation began to destroy them. That is difficult to explain without biology. The press release said:
As the non-biological sources they considered could not fully explain the abundance of organic compounds, it is therefore reasonable to hypothesize that living things could have formed them.
The measured abundance of long-chain alkanes and their possible carboxylic acid precursors found in the ancient Cumberland mudstone in Gale Crater would have been substantially higher before the onset of exposure to ionizing radiation approximately 80 million years ago. Based on recent radiolysis experiments, we estimate conservatively that the Cumberland mudstone would have contained 120–7700 ppm of long-chain alkanes and/or fatty acids before ionizing radiation exposure. Such a high concentration of large organic molecules in martian sedimentary rocks cannot be readily explained by the accretion of organics from carbon-rich interplanetary dust particles and meteorites, nor by the deposition of hypothetical haze-derived organics from an ancient martian atmosphere.
Hydrothermal activity or biology?
The study focuses on two primary possibilities. One is that the organics were formed by hydrothermal activity. However, analysis of the mudstone rock itself showed it had not experienced the high temperatures associated with hydrothermal activity. The researchers also considered serpentinization, a low-temperature metamorphic and hydration process where water reacts with ultramafic, olivine- and pyroxene-rich rocks from the Earth’s mantle, transforming them into serpentinite. But the rover didn’t find any telltale serpentine minerals in the rock. Also, if either of those two processes formed the organics, it must have occurred elsewhere, with water later transporting the organics to the Cumberland location.
It would also imply that there were abundant organics in the surrounding early Noachian (early Mars) rocks of Gale Crater. But only trace amounts have ever been detected so far.
The other, more exciting, possibility is that the organics, such as the former fatty acids, were the products of life, just as most of them on Earth are. The long-chain molecules are suggestive of an ancient martian biosphere of microorganisms. It is hard to assess that, however, because the parameters of the experiments with the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument on Curiosity made it difficult to detect both shorter and even longer-chain molecules. Scientists would need to compare them to the known long-chain molecules to more accurately assess their abundance.
View larger. | This Mastcam image from Curiosity shows the drilling target at the Cumberland mudstone on May 15, 2013. Image via NASA/ JPL-Caltech.
More study needed
A lot more study is required to further determine whether these organics really could be evidence of past life. For now, the paper concludes:
We agree with Carl Sagan’s claim that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence and understand that any purported detection of life on Mars will necessarily be met with intense scrutiny. In addition, in practice with established norms in the field of astrobiology, we note that the certainty of a life detection beyond Earth will require multiple lines of evidence. Nevertheless, our approach has led us to estimate that the Cumberland mudstone conservatively contained 120–7700 ppm of long-chain alkanes and/or fatty acids before exposure to ionizing radiation. We argue that such high concentrations of long-chain alkanes are inconsistent with a few known abiotic sources of organic molecules on ancient Mars.
To improve the ability to predict the types and concentrations of organic molecules that could have been preserved in ancient sedimentary rocks exposed to ionizing radiation at the martian surface – regardless of their origin – we recommend experimental studies that determine the radiolytic degradation rates of kerogens, alkanes and fatty acids in Cumberland-like Mars analogs under Mars-like conditions.
Bottom line: NASA’s Curiosity rover found complex organics on Mars, possibly remains of fatty acids. A new NASA study suggests they are difficult to explain without life.
Sirius is the sky’s brightest star. You’ll always know it’s Sirius because Orion’s Belt – 3 stars in a short, straight row – points to it. As seen from latitudes like those in Florida, Texas or southern California, Canopus – the 2nd brightest star – arcs across the south below Sirius on February evenings. From farther south, Sirius and Canopus cross higher in the sky, like almost-twin diamonds.
Can you see Canopus?
If you stay at latitudes like those in the northern U.S., you’ll never see Canopus. That’s why this star has become a holy grail of sorts for some Northern Hemisphere skywatchers, who take winter vacations at southerly latitudes (like those in the southern U.S.), just to catch a glimpse of it. From latitudes like those in the southern U.S., Canopus – the sky’s 2nd-brightest star – appears as a bright light closer to the horizon than Sirius (the sky’s brightest star). For those southerly observers, Canopus and Sirius arc across the south together on February evenings.
Will you see Canopus? It depends, basically, on how far south you are, and what time of year you’re looking. Canopus never rises above the horizon for locations north of about 37 degrees north latitude. In the United States, that line runs from roughly Richmond, Virginia; westward to Bowling Green, Kentucky; through Trinidad, Colorado and onward to San Jose, California. Here’s a list of global locations at the 37th parallel north. You must be south of that line to see Canopus.
February evenings are ideal
Right now, February evenings are a perfect time to look for Canopus. Then, this star is at its highest in the sky around 9 p.m. your local time (the time on your clock no matter where you are on the globe). From the Northern Hemisphere, Canopus appears in the southern sky almost directly south of Sirius. When Sirius is at its highest point to the south, Canopus is about 36 degrees below it.
For observers in the Southern Hemisphere, it’s an entirely different story. From latitudes south of the equator, both Canopus and Sirius appear higher in the sky. Indeed, they are like twin beacons crossing overhead together.
For sure, the sight of them is enough to make a northern observer envy the southern skies!
Spectroscopically, it is an F0 type star, making it significantly hotter than our sun (roughly 13,600 degrees Fahrenheit or 7,500 degrees Celsius) at its surface. This is compared to about 10,000 degrees F or 5,500 degrees C for the sun.
Canopus also has a luminosity class rating of II, which makes it a “bright giant” star much larger than the sun. (Some classifications make it a type Ia “supergiant.”)
If the sun and Canopus were side by side, it would take about 71 suns, altogether, to fit across Canopus. Canopus appears significantly less bright than Sirius, but it is much brighter, blazing with the brilliance of 10,000 suns!
Although its exact age is unknown, Canopus’ great mass dictates that this star must be near the end of its lifetime. It is likely a few million to a few tens of millions of years old. Compared to our sedate middle-aged 5-billion-year-old sun, Canopus has lived in the stellar fast lane and is destined to die young.
Canopus in science fiction
In Frank Herbert‘s 1965 novel Dune and other novels in his Dune universe, the fictional planet Arrakis is a vast desert world. It is home to sandworms and Bedouin-like humans called the Fremen. It is the third planet from a real star in our night sky. That star is Canopus.
In Herbert’s novel, the desert planet Arrakis is the only source of “spice,” the most important and valuable substance in the Dune universe. This “spice” is what makes star travel possible, in this fictional universe.
It’s possible, according to Wikipedia (which references the famous book Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning by Richard Hinckley Allen), that Herbert was influenced in his choice of this star as the primary for Arrakis by a common etymological derivation of the name Canopus:
… as a Latinization (through Greek Kanobos) from the Coptic Kahi Nub (“Golden Earth”), which refers to how Canopus would have appeared over the southern desert horizon in ancient Egypt, reddened by atmospheric absorption.
And it’s true … from much of the classical world in ancient times, Canopus would have appeared low in the sky, when it was visible at all. And so, yes, its bright light would be reddened due to looking at it through a greater thickness of atmosphere in the direction toward the horizon. Just as, for example, our sun or moon seen low in the sky looks redder than usual. Golden Earth indeed.
By the way, although Arrakis is fictional, Canopus is not only very real but also much hotter and larger than our sun.
History and mythology
Canopus is also called Alpha Carinae, the brightest star in the constellation Carina the Keel. This constellation used to be considered part of Argo Navis, the ship of Jason and his famed Argonauts, as seen in our sky. Canopus originally marked a keel or rudder of this ancient celestial ship. Alas, the great Argo Navis constellation no longer exists. Modern imaginations see it as broken into three parts: the Keel (Carina, of which Canopus is part), sails (Vela) and the poop deck (Puppis).
For those far enough south to see it, Canopus was a star of great importance from ancient times to modern times as a primary navigational star. This is, surely, due to its brightness.
The origin of the name Canopus is subject to question. By some accounts it is the name of a ship’s captain from the Trojan War. Another theory is that it is from ancient Egyptian meaning Golden Earth. It’s a possible reference to the star’s appearance as seen through atmospheric haze near the horizon from Egyptian latitudes.
The position of Canopus is RA: 6h 23m 57s, Dec: -52° 41′ 45″
Drawing from Urania’s Mirror, 1824. Carina is part of the ancient ship Argo Navis in the lower right corner. Image via Sidney Hall/ Wikipedia (public domain).
Bottom line: Canopus is the 2nd-brightest star as seen from Earth. To see Canopus, you must either be in the Southern Hemisphere or below the Northern Hemisphere’s 37th parallel north.
Sirius is the sky’s brightest star. You’ll always know it’s Sirius because Orion’s Belt – 3 stars in a short, straight row – points to it. As seen from latitudes like those in Florida, Texas or southern California, Canopus – the 2nd brightest star – arcs across the south below Sirius on February evenings. From farther south, Sirius and Canopus cross higher in the sky, like almost-twin diamonds.
Can you see Canopus?
If you stay at latitudes like those in the northern U.S., you’ll never see Canopus. That’s why this star has become a holy grail of sorts for some Northern Hemisphere skywatchers, who take winter vacations at southerly latitudes (like those in the southern U.S.), just to catch a glimpse of it. From latitudes like those in the southern U.S., Canopus – the sky’s 2nd-brightest star – appears as a bright light closer to the horizon than Sirius (the sky’s brightest star). For those southerly observers, Canopus and Sirius arc across the south together on February evenings.
Will you see Canopus? It depends, basically, on how far south you are, and what time of year you’re looking. Canopus never rises above the horizon for locations north of about 37 degrees north latitude. In the United States, that line runs from roughly Richmond, Virginia; westward to Bowling Green, Kentucky; through Trinidad, Colorado and onward to San Jose, California. Here’s a list of global locations at the 37th parallel north. You must be south of that line to see Canopus.
February evenings are ideal
Right now, February evenings are a perfect time to look for Canopus. Then, this star is at its highest in the sky around 9 p.m. your local time (the time on your clock no matter where you are on the globe). From the Northern Hemisphere, Canopus appears in the southern sky almost directly south of Sirius. When Sirius is at its highest point to the south, Canopus is about 36 degrees below it.
For observers in the Southern Hemisphere, it’s an entirely different story. From latitudes south of the equator, both Canopus and Sirius appear higher in the sky. Indeed, they are like twin beacons crossing overhead together.
For sure, the sight of them is enough to make a northern observer envy the southern skies!
Spectroscopically, it is an F0 type star, making it significantly hotter than our sun (roughly 13,600 degrees Fahrenheit or 7,500 degrees Celsius) at its surface. This is compared to about 10,000 degrees F or 5,500 degrees C for the sun.
Canopus also has a luminosity class rating of II, which makes it a “bright giant” star much larger than the sun. (Some classifications make it a type Ia “supergiant.”)
If the sun and Canopus were side by side, it would take about 71 suns, altogether, to fit across Canopus. Canopus appears significantly less bright than Sirius, but it is much brighter, blazing with the brilliance of 10,000 suns!
Although its exact age is unknown, Canopus’ great mass dictates that this star must be near the end of its lifetime. It is likely a few million to a few tens of millions of years old. Compared to our sedate middle-aged 5-billion-year-old sun, Canopus has lived in the stellar fast lane and is destined to die young.
Canopus in science fiction
In Frank Herbert‘s 1965 novel Dune and other novels in his Dune universe, the fictional planet Arrakis is a vast desert world. It is home to sandworms and Bedouin-like humans called the Fremen. It is the third planet from a real star in our night sky. That star is Canopus.
In Herbert’s novel, the desert planet Arrakis is the only source of “spice,” the most important and valuable substance in the Dune universe. This “spice” is what makes star travel possible, in this fictional universe.
It’s possible, according to Wikipedia (which references the famous book Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning by Richard Hinckley Allen), that Herbert was influenced in his choice of this star as the primary for Arrakis by a common etymological derivation of the name Canopus:
… as a Latinization (through Greek Kanobos) from the Coptic Kahi Nub (“Golden Earth”), which refers to how Canopus would have appeared over the southern desert horizon in ancient Egypt, reddened by atmospheric absorption.
And it’s true … from much of the classical world in ancient times, Canopus would have appeared low in the sky, when it was visible at all. And so, yes, its bright light would be reddened due to looking at it through a greater thickness of atmosphere in the direction toward the horizon. Just as, for example, our sun or moon seen low in the sky looks redder than usual. Golden Earth indeed.
By the way, although Arrakis is fictional, Canopus is not only very real but also much hotter and larger than our sun.
History and mythology
Canopus is also called Alpha Carinae, the brightest star in the constellation Carina the Keel. This constellation used to be considered part of Argo Navis, the ship of Jason and his famed Argonauts, as seen in our sky. Canopus originally marked a keel or rudder of this ancient celestial ship. Alas, the great Argo Navis constellation no longer exists. Modern imaginations see it as broken into three parts: the Keel (Carina, of which Canopus is part), sails (Vela) and the poop deck (Puppis).
For those far enough south to see it, Canopus was a star of great importance from ancient times to modern times as a primary navigational star. This is, surely, due to its brightness.
The origin of the name Canopus is subject to question. By some accounts it is the name of a ship’s captain from the Trojan War. Another theory is that it is from ancient Egyptian meaning Golden Earth. It’s a possible reference to the star’s appearance as seen through atmospheric haze near the horizon from Egyptian latitudes.
The position of Canopus is RA: 6h 23m 57s, Dec: -52° 41′ 45″
Drawing from Urania’s Mirror, 1824. Carina is part of the ancient ship Argo Navis in the lower right corner. Image via Sidney Hall/ Wikipedia (public domain).
Bottom line: Canopus is the 2nd-brightest star as seen from Earth. To see Canopus, you must either be in the Southern Hemisphere or below the Northern Hemisphere’s 37th parallel north.
Discover the amazing gliding possum with EarthSky’s Cristina Ortiz.
Imagine an animal that can glide more than 165 feet (50 m) without flapping its limbs, with eyes so large they seem to capture the entire night, and that carries its young in a pouch like a kangaroo. It’s not a fantasy creature: it’s the gliding possum. This arboreal marsupial turns the nighttime forest into an airborne highway.
Although many confuse gliding possums with flying squirrels, they are not related. The gliding possum is not a rodent; it’s a marsupial, which changes the story completely. Here are the secrets of one of Oceania’s most fascinating mammals.
Anatomy of a nocturnal acrobat
The gliding possum is a small marsupial with a light, flexible body adapted to life in the trees. Depending on the species, its size varies considerably, from the tiny pygmy gliding possum (Acrobates pygmaeus), weighing just over 0.35 ounces (10 g), to the greater gliders, which can reach up to 3.5 pounds (1.6 kg) in weight.
The pygmy gliding possum is also called feathertail glider because of its distinctive tail with a “feathered” appearance. Image via Tony Rees/ Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Its fur is usually soft and dense, in shades of gray or brown, often with a darker stripe along the back. The tail is long, furry and highly functional. It acts as a rudder during gliding and as a balance aid when moving along branches.
Its limbs are equipped with long, exceptionally agile fingers that end in sharp claws. The gliding possum can grip tree bark, climb safely and maneuver precisely among branches.
As a true marsupial, the female has a ventral pouch where the young complete their development after an extremely premature birth. The tiny, undeveloped offspring cling inside the pouch for several weeks, feeding and growing. When they start venturing out, they practice climbing and exploring under the watchful eye of their mother, who protects and guides them in their first movements.
A greater glider holds onto a tree branch. Image via Josh Bowell/ Victorian National Parks Association/ Science NASA (CC BY 2.0).
The patagium acts as wings
The most astonishing feature of the gliding possum is the patagium, a thin skin membrane stretching from the forelimbs to the hindlimbs. When the animal extends its limbs, this membrane unfolds like a natural paraglider.
See that folded skin that separates the dark back from the white belly? That’s the patagium, a membrane that opens and acts as a paraglider. Image via Iachlancopeland/ iNaturalist (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Thanks to this adaptation, the gliding possum does not truly fly; it glides. It can launch from the top of a tree and travel up to 165 feet (50 m) before landing precisely on another trunk. While gliding, it adjusts its direction mainly using its limbs and tail, allowing it to navigate around obstacles and land accurately. Some species are capable of sharp, nearly 90-degree turns, helping them maneuver through dense forest canopies and evade predators. So the gliding possum’s efficient movement through trees also protects it from predation.
Big eyes, night vision
The possum’s enormous eyes are not merely aesthetic. They are essential adaptations to its nocturnal lifestyle.
Being primarily active at night, it needs to capture as much light as possible in dark environments. Its large eyeballs allow more light to reach the retina, improving vision in low-light conditions. This helps it locate food and anticipate predators.
Additionally, its vision is specially adapted to gauge distances accurately. This is crucial when jumping and gliding between trees high above the ground.
In addition to their exceptional eyesight, gliding possums rely heavily on smell and sensitive whiskers to navigate the forest at night. These senses help them detect obstacles, find food and move confidently even in near-total darkness.
Gliding possums are nocturnal animals. Therefore, they need big eyes to capture as much light as they can. Image via Timur Garifov/ Unsplash.
Forest friends in flight
Beyond gliding, these animals are full of surprising traits. Although often compared to flying squirrels, they are not rodents. They belong to the marsupial group, making them much more closely related to kangaroos and koalas than to any squirrel.
This small animal feeds on sap, nectar, fruit, insects and small invertebrates. Some species show remarkable behavior with food. They can carry small amounts in their mouths to eat later, almost like a portable pantry. They can also remember specific routes and trees that provide food, returning to the same trees year after year: a sign of exceptional spatial memory.
Although known for gliding, gliding possums can also leap vertically up to 6.5 feet (2 m) between nearby branches. They use this skill to evade predators or reach strategic launching points. Their constant activity among the trees is also a boon to the ecosystem. They transport pollen and disperse seeds, helping maintain forest balance. The gliding possum is an active and essential component of its ecosystem.
These marsupials feed on sap, nectar, fruit, insects and small invertebrates. While they move among the trees, they transport pollen and disperse seeds, contributing to forest health. Image via andyround62/ Pixabay.
Curious facts about the gliding possum
Another fascinating feature of gliding possums is their communication. They produce a wide range of sounds, including whistles, chirps and barely audible grunts. These noises help them stay in contact with their group and warn each other of danger. They are also highly social, sharing shelters, grooming one another and recognizing each family member by scent and sound.
In cold nights or when food is scarce, gliding possums can lower their metabolism and enter a state of torpor. This allows them conserve energy until conditions improve.
Gliding possums use a rich language to stay connected, share shelters, groom each other and navigate life together in the forest canopy. Image via Pfinge/ Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 2.0).
How many species of gliding possums exist?
Gliding possums belong to several genera within the order Diprotodontia, the largest living order of marsupials. They are the only marsupials capable of aerial gliding. More than 15 species are recognized, mainly in genera such as Petaurus, Petauroides, and Acrobates, along with a few minor genera.
Among them, the sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps) stands out as the most widely known species. Its popularity comes from both its wide distribution in Australia and New Guinea and its presence in the exotic pet trade. It is small, very social and active, which has contributed to its fame. But keeping it as a pet requires highly specific care.
At the opposite end in size is the southern greater glider (Petauroides volans), capable of spectacular glides among tall Australian forest trees.
From the tiny, social sugar glider to the soaring southern greater glider, these creatures are the only marsupails capable of true aerial gliding, spanning over 15 species across several genera. Image via Greg Tasney/ iNaturalist (CC BY-SA 4.0).
A fascinating and demanding animal
In recent years, the sugar glider has gained popularity as an exotic pet in various countries. Its small size, adorable appearance and active behavior make it appealing to those seeking a unique companion.
However, behind that cute image lies an animal with very specific needs. It is nocturnal, deeply social — living in small family groups and needing the company of other members of its species — and requires vertical space, constant stimulation and a complex diet difficult to replicate outside its natural habitat.
It is not a domesticated animal but a wild one. In the wild, these animals inhabit the vast forests of Australia and New Guinea, where vertical space and abundant trees make their aerial lifestyle possible.
When you understand their biology and behavior, you see the forest is where they’re meant to live. There, gliding among trees in the dark, the gliding possums display all the skills that make them one of nature’s most extraordinary little acrobats.
Sugar gliders are highly social, nocturnal wild animals with specialized needs. They thrive in forested habitats that allow them to glide, forage and live as nature intended. Image via naturalist67279/ iNaturalist.
Bottom line: Gliding possums dart through the night, soaring up to 165 feet with their young in their pouches. These tiny acrobats rule the treetops.
Discover the amazing gliding possum with EarthSky’s Cristina Ortiz.
Imagine an animal that can glide more than 165 feet (50 m) without flapping its limbs, with eyes so large they seem to capture the entire night, and that carries its young in a pouch like a kangaroo. It’s not a fantasy creature: it’s the gliding possum. This arboreal marsupial turns the nighttime forest into an airborne highway.
Although many confuse gliding possums with flying squirrels, they are not related. The gliding possum is not a rodent; it’s a marsupial, which changes the story completely. Here are the secrets of one of Oceania’s most fascinating mammals.
Anatomy of a nocturnal acrobat
The gliding possum is a small marsupial with a light, flexible body adapted to life in the trees. Depending on the species, its size varies considerably, from the tiny pygmy gliding possum (Acrobates pygmaeus), weighing just over 0.35 ounces (10 g), to the greater gliders, which can reach up to 3.5 pounds (1.6 kg) in weight.
The pygmy gliding possum is also called feathertail glider because of its distinctive tail with a “feathered” appearance. Image via Tony Rees/ Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Its fur is usually soft and dense, in shades of gray or brown, often with a darker stripe along the back. The tail is long, furry and highly functional. It acts as a rudder during gliding and as a balance aid when moving along branches.
Its limbs are equipped with long, exceptionally agile fingers that end in sharp claws. The gliding possum can grip tree bark, climb safely and maneuver precisely among branches.
As a true marsupial, the female has a ventral pouch where the young complete their development after an extremely premature birth. The tiny, undeveloped offspring cling inside the pouch for several weeks, feeding and growing. When they start venturing out, they practice climbing and exploring under the watchful eye of their mother, who protects and guides them in their first movements.
A greater glider holds onto a tree branch. Image via Josh Bowell/ Victorian National Parks Association/ Science NASA (CC BY 2.0).
The patagium acts as wings
The most astonishing feature of the gliding possum is the patagium, a thin skin membrane stretching from the forelimbs to the hindlimbs. When the animal extends its limbs, this membrane unfolds like a natural paraglider.
See that folded skin that separates the dark back from the white belly? That’s the patagium, a membrane that opens and acts as a paraglider. Image via Iachlancopeland/ iNaturalist (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Thanks to this adaptation, the gliding possum does not truly fly; it glides. It can launch from the top of a tree and travel up to 165 feet (50 m) before landing precisely on another trunk. While gliding, it adjusts its direction mainly using its limbs and tail, allowing it to navigate around obstacles and land accurately. Some species are capable of sharp, nearly 90-degree turns, helping them maneuver through dense forest canopies and evade predators. So the gliding possum’s efficient movement through trees also protects it from predation.
Big eyes, night vision
The possum’s enormous eyes are not merely aesthetic. They are essential adaptations to its nocturnal lifestyle.
Being primarily active at night, it needs to capture as much light as possible in dark environments. Its large eyeballs allow more light to reach the retina, improving vision in low-light conditions. This helps it locate food and anticipate predators.
Additionally, its vision is specially adapted to gauge distances accurately. This is crucial when jumping and gliding between trees high above the ground.
In addition to their exceptional eyesight, gliding possums rely heavily on smell and sensitive whiskers to navigate the forest at night. These senses help them detect obstacles, find food and move confidently even in near-total darkness.
Gliding possums are nocturnal animals. Therefore, they need big eyes to capture as much light as they can. Image via Timur Garifov/ Unsplash.
Forest friends in flight
Beyond gliding, these animals are full of surprising traits. Although often compared to flying squirrels, they are not rodents. They belong to the marsupial group, making them much more closely related to kangaroos and koalas than to any squirrel.
This small animal feeds on sap, nectar, fruit, insects and small invertebrates. Some species show remarkable behavior with food. They can carry small amounts in their mouths to eat later, almost like a portable pantry. They can also remember specific routes and trees that provide food, returning to the same trees year after year: a sign of exceptional spatial memory.
Although known for gliding, gliding possums can also leap vertically up to 6.5 feet (2 m) between nearby branches. They use this skill to evade predators or reach strategic launching points. Their constant activity among the trees is also a boon to the ecosystem. They transport pollen and disperse seeds, helping maintain forest balance. The gliding possum is an active and essential component of its ecosystem.
These marsupials feed on sap, nectar, fruit, insects and small invertebrates. While they move among the trees, they transport pollen and disperse seeds, contributing to forest health. Image via andyround62/ Pixabay.
Curious facts about the gliding possum
Another fascinating feature of gliding possums is their communication. They produce a wide range of sounds, including whistles, chirps and barely audible grunts. These noises help them stay in contact with their group and warn each other of danger. They are also highly social, sharing shelters, grooming one another and recognizing each family member by scent and sound.
In cold nights or when food is scarce, gliding possums can lower their metabolism and enter a state of torpor. This allows them conserve energy until conditions improve.
Gliding possums use a rich language to stay connected, share shelters, groom each other and navigate life together in the forest canopy. Image via Pfinge/ Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 2.0).
How many species of gliding possums exist?
Gliding possums belong to several genera within the order Diprotodontia, the largest living order of marsupials. They are the only marsupials capable of aerial gliding. More than 15 species are recognized, mainly in genera such as Petaurus, Petauroides, and Acrobates, along with a few minor genera.
Among them, the sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps) stands out as the most widely known species. Its popularity comes from both its wide distribution in Australia and New Guinea and its presence in the exotic pet trade. It is small, very social and active, which has contributed to its fame. But keeping it as a pet requires highly specific care.
At the opposite end in size is the southern greater glider (Petauroides volans), capable of spectacular glides among tall Australian forest trees.
From the tiny, social sugar glider to the soaring southern greater glider, these creatures are the only marsupails capable of true aerial gliding, spanning over 15 species across several genera. Image via Greg Tasney/ iNaturalist (CC BY-SA 4.0).
A fascinating and demanding animal
In recent years, the sugar glider has gained popularity as an exotic pet in various countries. Its small size, adorable appearance and active behavior make it appealing to those seeking a unique companion.
However, behind that cute image lies an animal with very specific needs. It is nocturnal, deeply social — living in small family groups and needing the company of other members of its species — and requires vertical space, constant stimulation and a complex diet difficult to replicate outside its natural habitat.
It is not a domesticated animal but a wild one. In the wild, these animals inhabit the vast forests of Australia and New Guinea, where vertical space and abundant trees make their aerial lifestyle possible.
When you understand their biology and behavior, you see the forest is where they’re meant to live. There, gliding among trees in the dark, the gliding possums display all the skills that make them one of nature’s most extraordinary little acrobats.
Sugar gliders are highly social, nocturnal wild animals with specialized needs. They thrive in forested habitats that allow them to glide, forage and live as nature intended. Image via naturalist67279/ iNaturalist.
Bottom line: Gliding possums dart through the night, soaring up to 165 feet with their young in their pouches. These tiny acrobats rule the treetops.
On February 15, 2013, a small asteroid with an estimated size of 65 feet (20 meters) entered Earth’s atmosphere. It was moving at 12 miles per second (~19 km/sec) when it struck the protective blanket of air around our planet, which did its job and caused the asteroid to explode. The bright, hot explosion took place only about 20 miles (30 km) above the city of Chelyabinsk in Russia and carried 20 to 30 times the energy of the Hiroshima atomic bomb. Its shock wave broke windows and knocked down parts of buildings in six Russian cities; furthermore, it caused some 1,500 people to seek medical attention for injuries, mostly from flying glass.
Bright fireball over Russia on the morning of February 15, 2013. Scientists later said the light from the Chelyabinsk meteor was brighter than the sun. People saw it up to 60 miles (100 km) away.
The power of the Chelyabinsk explosion
Large and small bodies from space strike Earth’s atmosphere continuously. The Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization operates a network of sensors that monitors Earth around the clock listening for the infrasound signature of nuclear detonations. In 2014 it stated that the sensors had recorded 26 atom-bomb-scale asteroid impacts to Earth’s atmosphere since 2000.
Still, the February 15, 2013, Russian superbolide was extremely powerful; in fact, it was the most powerful explosion caused by an asteroid since Tunguska. The Tunguska event flattened a wide area of forest and killed reindeer in Siberia in 1908.
The Tunguska event happened in a sparsely populated part of Siberia; therefore, it remained mysterious to scientists throughout the early part of the 20th century. By contrast, across a wide swath of Russia on February 15, 2013, numerous dashboard cameras and amateur photographers captured images of the incoming meteor and its effects.
Vapor cloud trail left by the Chelyabinsk, Russia, asteroid as captured by M. Ahmetvaleev on February 15, 2013. Image via ESA.
Meteorites left by the explosion
After the 2013 meteor exploded, local residents and schoolchildren found meteorite fragments left in its aftermath, many located in snowdrifts. An informal market emerged for meteorite fragments.
A large number of small meteorites fell on areas west of Chelyabinsk, and, within hours of the visual sighting of the meteor, a 20-foot (6-meter) hole was discovered on the frozen surface of Lake Chebarkul in the Russian Ural Mountains. Scientists from the Ural Federal University collected 53 samples from around the hole that same day.
In June 2013, Russian scientists reported further investigation by magnetic imaging below the location of the ice hole in Lake Chebarkul. They identified a larger meteorite buried in sediments on the lake floor.
Following an operation lasting a number of weeks, on October 15, 2013, the scientists pulled up a large fragment of the meteorite from the bottom of Lake Chebarkul. It had a total mass of 1,442 pounds (654 kg) and to date remains the largest found fragment of the Chelyabinsk meteorite.
This is the largest-discovered fragment of the Russian meteorite, lifted from the bed of Lake Chebarkul in the Urals. Image via Voice of Russia.
Tracking the plume in the atmosphere
NASA satellites were also able to track the meteor plume in Earth’s atmosphere. As the video below describes, they tracked and studied the meteor plume for months.
Bottom line: On February 15, 2013, a small asteroid entered Earth’s atmosphere over Russia. Dash cam footage captured the bright meteor’s explosion over the city of Chelyabinsk.
On February 15, 2013, a small asteroid with an estimated size of 65 feet (20 meters) entered Earth’s atmosphere. It was moving at 12 miles per second (~19 km/sec) when it struck the protective blanket of air around our planet, which did its job and caused the asteroid to explode. The bright, hot explosion took place only about 20 miles (30 km) above the city of Chelyabinsk in Russia and carried 20 to 30 times the energy of the Hiroshima atomic bomb. Its shock wave broke windows and knocked down parts of buildings in six Russian cities; furthermore, it caused some 1,500 people to seek medical attention for injuries, mostly from flying glass.
Bright fireball over Russia on the morning of February 15, 2013. Scientists later said the light from the Chelyabinsk meteor was brighter than the sun. People saw it up to 60 miles (100 km) away.
The power of the Chelyabinsk explosion
Large and small bodies from space strike Earth’s atmosphere continuously. The Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization operates a network of sensors that monitors Earth around the clock listening for the infrasound signature of nuclear detonations. In 2014 it stated that the sensors had recorded 26 atom-bomb-scale asteroid impacts to Earth’s atmosphere since 2000.
Still, the February 15, 2013, Russian superbolide was extremely powerful; in fact, it was the most powerful explosion caused by an asteroid since Tunguska. The Tunguska event flattened a wide area of forest and killed reindeer in Siberia in 1908.
The Tunguska event happened in a sparsely populated part of Siberia; therefore, it remained mysterious to scientists throughout the early part of the 20th century. By contrast, across a wide swath of Russia on February 15, 2013, numerous dashboard cameras and amateur photographers captured images of the incoming meteor and its effects.
Vapor cloud trail left by the Chelyabinsk, Russia, asteroid as captured by M. Ahmetvaleev on February 15, 2013. Image via ESA.
Meteorites left by the explosion
After the 2013 meteor exploded, local residents and schoolchildren found meteorite fragments left in its aftermath, many located in snowdrifts. An informal market emerged for meteorite fragments.
A large number of small meteorites fell on areas west of Chelyabinsk, and, within hours of the visual sighting of the meteor, a 20-foot (6-meter) hole was discovered on the frozen surface of Lake Chebarkul in the Russian Ural Mountains. Scientists from the Ural Federal University collected 53 samples from around the hole that same day.
In June 2013, Russian scientists reported further investigation by magnetic imaging below the location of the ice hole in Lake Chebarkul. They identified a larger meteorite buried in sediments on the lake floor.
Following an operation lasting a number of weeks, on October 15, 2013, the scientists pulled up a large fragment of the meteorite from the bottom of Lake Chebarkul. It had a total mass of 1,442 pounds (654 kg) and to date remains the largest found fragment of the Chelyabinsk meteorite.
This is the largest-discovered fragment of the Russian meteorite, lifted from the bed of Lake Chebarkul in the Urals. Image via Voice of Russia.
Tracking the plume in the atmosphere
NASA satellites were also able to track the meteor plume in Earth’s atmosphere. As the video below describes, they tracked and studied the meteor plume for months.
Bottom line: On February 15, 2013, a small asteroid entered Earth’s atmosphere over Russia. Dash cam footage captured the bright meteor’s explosion over the city of Chelyabinsk.
