Western US wildfires less frequent but more massive

In this view from January 8, 2025, the Palisades Fire threatens houses along the Pacific Coast in California. A new study says western US wildfires have become less frequent over the past 30 years. However, the wildfires are getting larger. Image via CAL FIRE.

• Wildfires in the western U.S. are becoming less frequent, a new study says.
• But the wildfires that do occur are getting worse. They’re burning larger areas and causing more damage.
• Humans appear to be driving these changes. Human-driven climate change is making wildfires more destructive, while human behavioural change seems to be making them less frequent.

Western US wildfires less frequent but more massive

First, the good news: The number of wildfires in the western U.S. has gone down. Wildfires in this region are down about 28% over the past 30 years. And a large part of that is due to a 40% decline in fires accidentally started by humans.

Now, the bad news: The wildfires that do occur in the West are having a larger impact. They are burning larger areas, and so fire damages are increasing. The cause? Human-driven climate change making these regions hotter and drier.

These are the findings of a new study published on April 30, 2026, examining fire frequency and human influence in the western United States.

The researchers also identified a pattern relating to human habitation. In areas with lots of people, there are fewer fires. Meanwhile, in areas with fewer people, the frequency of fires goes up as the population density of that region rises. Unfortunately, there are also exceptions to these population trends. Los Angeles, Phoenix and Denver are seeing more frequent fires despite their high population densities.

The researchers say studying human demographics and wildfire frequency could help predict future patterns. But it’s still early to draw too many conclusions. Gavin Madakumbura, an atmospheric and oceanic scientist at UCLA and leader of the study, said:

It would be premature to talk about informing fire management [based on] these results, but the main implication is that we can incorporate these results into projections of future fire activity.

The peer-reviewed journal Earth’s Future published the new study on April 30, 2026.

Less frequent fires but a greater impact

Even though the total number of wildfires in the western U.S. has gone down, it might not seem like it. That’s because the impacts of the wildfires are going up. The fires may be fewer in number, but they are burning more land. Between 1992 and 2020, 4% more land burned each year. Case in point: In 2020, wildfires across California, Oregon and Washington burned more than 9 million acres. That’s larger than the state of Maryland.

But in the new study, the researchers did find that the number of fires per year in the West is going down. In 1992, they counted 25,000 fires. And by 2020, it was down to 18,000 fires. So that’s 305 fewer fires each year. Their study looked at 11 western states, from Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and westward.

This was the view from the GOES-17 satellite on September 9, 2020. That year, wildfires burned more than 9 million acres in the western U.S. Image via NWS.

What is the role of humans in these fires?

The decline of human-started fires was not consistent across all states. While California and Arizona saw fewer fires started by people, Wyoming saw more. Part of this could be due to public resources.

The researchers looked at a number of factors, including changes in population density and fire protection and management expenditures for each state. The higher the population density, the more the state spent on fire protection. For example, California spends 7 billion dollars more a year on fire protection compared to Wyoming.

Scientists call the link between population density and fires pyric transition. As the press release explained:

In sparsely populated regions, the idea goes, adding more people leads to more fires accidentally sparked by human activity. But past a certain threshold of population density, more people also means more coordinated fire prevention and public awareness efforts to tackle the rising risk. This, coupled with the fragmented, patchwork nature of more populated landscapes, can end up making fires less frequent.

So the scientists are seeing a correlation between population density and fires. But is there a causation as well? Madakumbura said:

We know that with increasing human activity, we get more accidental human ignitions. But at the same time, a lot of regions are spending so much money on fire prevention and fire awareness, so we should see this in the data. The data definitely seem to indicate that this is a possible causative relationship.

What about the big-city outliers?

Los Angeles, Phoenix and Denver have some of the larger population centers in the western U.S., but they still have frequent fires. But it could be a difference in fire reporting practices, said Madakumbura. These areas might have more reports of small fires, whereas a lower-population area might not have these reports. Sparsely populated areas might focus more on wildland fires.

The role of climate change

So why is a larger area burning even though there are fewer fires? Madakumbura said human-driven climate warming is to blame. As these regions got hotter and drier, the conditions encourage the development of larger fires.

But climate change may both be triggering a rise in fires and suppression as well. As the West grapples with the threat of fire due to the heat and low humidity, places with adequate resources increase their prevention efforts.

So while human-caused climate change is a factor in fires, the human demographics of an area also appears to be a factor. The researchers are hoping to help predict future fire patterns more accurately by looking at all possible factors. Madakumbura concluded:

Even though we have been able to reduce the number of fires through fire preparedness, fire awareness, and spending a lot of money on protective measures, there is a disconnect. We haven’t been able to reduce the damages.

Bottom line: Researchers looked at western U.S. wildfires over the past 30 years and found that while they are becoming less frequent, the fires that pop up are larger and more damaging.

Source: Evolving Fire Frequency in the Western United States and Its Links to Human Influence

Via AGU

Read more: This Is Wildfire: Tips on preparing yourself and your home

The post Western US wildfires less frequent but more massive first appeared on EarthSky.

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/xspTb8C

In this view from January 8, 2025, the Palisades Fire threatens houses along the Pacific Coast in California. A new study says western US wildfires have become less frequent over the past 30 years. However, the wildfires are getting larger. Image via CAL FIRE.

• Wildfires in the western U.S. are becoming less frequent, a new study says.
• But the wildfires that do occur are getting worse. They’re burning larger areas and causing more damage.
• Humans appear to be driving these changes. Human-driven climate change is making wildfires more destructive, while human behavioural change seems to be making them less frequent.

Western US wildfires less frequent but more massive

First, the good news: The number of wildfires in the western U.S. has gone down. Wildfires in this region are down about 28% over the past 30 years. And a large part of that is due to a 40% decline in fires accidentally started by humans.

Now, the bad news: The wildfires that do occur in the West are having a larger impact. They are burning larger areas, and so fire damages are increasing. The cause? Human-driven climate change making these regions hotter and drier.

These are the findings of a new study published on April 30, 2026, examining fire frequency and human influence in the western United States.

The researchers also identified a pattern relating to human habitation. In areas with lots of people, there are fewer fires. Meanwhile, in areas with fewer people, the frequency of fires goes up as the population density of that region rises. Unfortunately, there are also exceptions to these population trends. Los Angeles, Phoenix and Denver are seeing more frequent fires despite their high population densities.

The researchers say studying human demographics and wildfire frequency could help predict future patterns. But it’s still early to draw too many conclusions. Gavin Madakumbura, an atmospheric and oceanic scientist at UCLA and leader of the study, said:

It would be premature to talk about informing fire management [based on] these results, but the main implication is that we can incorporate these results into projections of future fire activity.

The peer-reviewed journal Earth’s Future published the new study on April 30, 2026.

Less frequent fires but a greater impact

Even though the total number of wildfires in the western U.S. has gone down, it might not seem like it. That’s because the impacts of the wildfires are going up. The fires may be fewer in number, but they are burning more land. Between 1992 and 2020, 4% more land burned each year. Case in point: In 2020, wildfires across California, Oregon and Washington burned more than 9 million acres. That’s larger than the state of Maryland.

But in the new study, the researchers did find that the number of fires per year in the West is going down. In 1992, they counted 25,000 fires. And by 2020, it was down to 18,000 fires. So that’s 305 fewer fires each year. Their study looked at 11 western states, from Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and westward.

This was the view from the GOES-17 satellite on September 9, 2020. That year, wildfires burned more than 9 million acres in the western U.S. Image via NWS.

What is the role of humans in these fires?

The decline of human-started fires was not consistent across all states. While California and Arizona saw fewer fires started by people, Wyoming saw more. Part of this could be due to public resources.

The researchers looked at a number of factors, including changes in population density and fire protection and management expenditures for each state. The higher the population density, the more the state spent on fire protection. For example, California spends 7 billion dollars more a year on fire protection compared to Wyoming.

Scientists call the link between population density and fires pyric transition. As the press release explained:

In sparsely populated regions, the idea goes, adding more people leads to more fires accidentally sparked by human activity. But past a certain threshold of population density, more people also means more coordinated fire prevention and public awareness efforts to tackle the rising risk. This, coupled with the fragmented, patchwork nature of more populated landscapes, can end up making fires less frequent.

So the scientists are seeing a correlation between population density and fires. But is there a causation as well? Madakumbura said:

We know that with increasing human activity, we get more accidental human ignitions. But at the same time, a lot of regions are spending so much money on fire prevention and fire awareness, so we should see this in the data. The data definitely seem to indicate that this is a possible causative relationship.

What about the big-city outliers?

Los Angeles, Phoenix and Denver have some of the larger population centers in the western U.S., but they still have frequent fires. But it could be a difference in fire reporting practices, said Madakumbura. These areas might have more reports of small fires, whereas a lower-population area might not have these reports. Sparsely populated areas might focus more on wildland fires.

The role of climate change

So why is a larger area burning even though there are fewer fires? Madakumbura said human-driven climate warming is to blame. As these regions got hotter and drier, the conditions encourage the development of larger fires.

But climate change may both be triggering a rise in fires and suppression as well. As the West grapples with the threat of fire due to the heat and low humidity, places with adequate resources increase their prevention efforts.

So while human-caused climate change is a factor in fires, the human demographics of an area also appears to be a factor. The researchers are hoping to help predict future fire patterns more accurately by looking at all possible factors. Madakumbura concluded:

Even though we have been able to reduce the number of fires through fire preparedness, fire awareness, and spending a lot of money on protective measures, there is a disconnect. We haven’t been able to reduce the damages.

Bottom line: Researchers looked at western U.S. wildfires over the past 30 years and found that while they are becoming less frequent, the fires that pop up are larger and more damaging.

Source: Evolving Fire Frequency in the Western United States and Its Links to Human Influence

Via AGU

Read more: This Is Wildfire: Tips on preparing yourself and your home

The post Western US wildfires less frequent but more massive first appeared on EarthSky.

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/xspTb8C

Falcon rocket will hit the moon on August 5

This is the spot where a Falcon 9 upper stage rocket body will collide with the moon on August 5, 2026. The spent rocket will hit the moon at 5,400 mph (8,700 kph). Image via Bill Gray. Used with permission.

You deserve a daily dose of good news. For the latest in science and the night sky, click here to subscribe to our free daily newsletter.

Falcon rocket will hit the moon on August 5

Back on January 15, 2025, a Falcon 9 rocket launched two missions toward the moon: Blue Ghost and Hakuto-R. After the upper stage of the Falcon 9 rocket completed its boosting mission, it became just another piece of space junk. But now, says Bill Gray, a prolific tracker of near-Earth objects, the Falcon 9 is on a collision course with the moon.

Gray estimates the upper stage will hit the moon at 1:44 a.m. CDT (6:44 UTC) on August 5, 2026. As Gray said:

It doesn’t present any danger to anyone, though it does highlight a certain carelessness about how leftover space hardware (space junk) is disposed of.

Will we be able to see the impact?

The moon will be close to last quarter phase on August 5, 2026. By 1:44 a.m. CDT, those in the Central Time Zone will be able to see the moon, as it will have already risen in the east. Saturn will be nearby. Check Stellarium to see if the moon will be above the horizon at the time of impact if you’re further west. The timing will favor people in the eastern half of the U.S. and Canada, plus much of South America.

So where will the rocket hit? Right now, Gray said he estimates the impact will occur near the edge, or limb, of the moon, close to the Einstein crater.

However, the chances are we won’t be able to see the impact from Earth. Darn. Although the Einstein crater should (barely) be visible, the impact will likely be too small to see from so great a distance. However, after the impact, NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter might be able to get an image of the resulting crater. It’s happened before.

Previous lunar impact

Back in 2022, Bill Gray also predicted a rocket impact with the moon. There was a little confusion about where the rocket came from, but the space junk did indeed hit the moon on March 4, 2022. And it left a mark, too. NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter took an image of the aftermath.

A rocket body struck the moon on March 4, 2022, near Hertzsprung crater. It created a double crater roughly 100 feet (30 meters) wide at its longest. Image via NASA/ Goddard/ Arizona State University.

A speeding object

Gray estimates the space junk will hit the moon at about 2.43 kilometers (1.51 miles) a second. That equates to 5,400 miles (8,700 kilometers) an hour. Because the moon has no real atmosphere, there will be nothing to slow it down.

Tracking the Falcon 9 upper stage

There have been hundreds of Falcon 9 launches. Usually, the spent rocket bodies orbit closely to Earth and eventually reenter our atmosphere. But some have gone on to orbit the sun.

This upper stage rocket has spent most of its time farther out than average, around the distance of the moon. Asteroid surveys pick up objects like this as they scan for dangerous space rocks. As Gray said:

The asteroid surveys would actually prefer not to observe space junk. Time spent observing junk is time not spent finding rocks. But both the rocks and the high-altitude space junk are slowly moving points of light in their images; they aren’t easy to distinguish. So the asteroid surveys find this sort of junk whether they want to or not.

Gray provides software tools for astronomers that help them distinguish between space rocks and space junk. He also computes orbits for high-orbiting objects the military doesn’t track. And he’s been tracking this piece of space junk for months. He’s known since September 2025 that the upper stage was likely on a collision course with the moon. And as he told EarthSky, he wasn’t surprised:

I’ve been checking for such possible impacts for about 20 years, ever since we started having many large bits of junk in orbits that could hit the moon. In a way, the only real surprise is that only two objects have hit the moon.

Rocket will hit the moon despite tiny pushes from sunlight

Over the past months he’s continued to track the object. The reason it can change course a tiny bit is due to the gentle push of sunlight on objects. And that little bit of push is tricky to track. As Gray said:

As an object tumbles, it may catch more or less sunlight, and may reflect some of it sideways.

But, as Gray told EarthSky:

I was reasonably sure a month or two later, but was in no rush to say anything about it. I figured I’d wait until the impact location was well established. So it was something of a gradual process, with no ‘Aha! It’s gonna hit!’ moment.

Not a lot of tracking farther from Earth

Gray told EarthSky:

I am an astronomer working under contract with both asteroid and artificial object observers. I started out doing this for natural objects (asteroids, comets, moons of other planets) about 30 years ago. A few years later, the asteroid surveys started to notice the occasional artificial object and asked me if I could find orbits for them as well.

And as Gray explains on his website, various countries carefully track objects in low-Earth orbit because there are so many pieces of debris with risks of collision with military and science satellites. Farther from Earth, there is less tracking. Or, as Gray said:

Generally speaking, high-altitude junk goes ignored. (Except, it appears, by me.)

Gray works with asteroid hunters. As he said:

My ‘day work’ is for the asteroid-hunting community … Most artificial objects are close to the Earth and move fast enough that there is no risk of mistaking them for an asteroid. But there are about a dozen ‘high-flying’ objects that can move slowly enough to look like a rock, at least briefly. For about 15 or 20 years now, I’ve taken these observations and computed orbits. Then, when the surveys find such objects, they can fairly quickly say ‘Never mind; it’s not a rock; it’s just another nuisance artificial object,’ and go back to looking for actual rocks.

Bottom line: A Falcon 9 rocket will hit the moon on August 5, 2026. How fast will it be going? Will we be able to see it? Answers here.

The post Falcon rocket will hit the moon on August 5 first appeared on EarthSky.

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/2KHN9s0

This is the spot where a Falcon 9 upper stage rocket body will collide with the moon on August 5, 2026. The spent rocket will hit the moon at 5,400 mph (8,700 kph). Image via Bill Gray. Used with permission.

You deserve a daily dose of good news. For the latest in science and the night sky, click here to subscribe to our free daily newsletter.

Falcon rocket will hit the moon on August 5

Back on January 15, 2025, a Falcon 9 rocket launched two missions toward the moon: Blue Ghost and Hakuto-R. After the upper stage of the Falcon 9 rocket completed its boosting mission, it became just another piece of space junk. But now, says Bill Gray, a prolific tracker of near-Earth objects, the Falcon 9 is on a collision course with the moon.

Gray estimates the upper stage will hit the moon at 1:44 a.m. CDT (6:44 UTC) on August 5, 2026. As Gray said:

It doesn’t present any danger to anyone, though it does highlight a certain carelessness about how leftover space hardware (space junk) is disposed of.

Will we be able to see the impact?

The moon will be close to last quarter phase on August 5, 2026. By 1:44 a.m. CDT, those in the Central Time Zone will be able to see the moon, as it will have already risen in the east. Saturn will be nearby. Check Stellarium to see if the moon will be above the horizon at the time of impact if you’re further west. The timing will favor people in the eastern half of the U.S. and Canada, plus much of South America.

So where will the rocket hit? Right now, Gray said he estimates the impact will occur near the edge, or limb, of the moon, close to the Einstein crater.

However, the chances are we won’t be able to see the impact from Earth. Darn. Although the Einstein crater should (barely) be visible, the impact will likely be too small to see from so great a distance. However, after the impact, NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter might be able to get an image of the resulting crater. It’s happened before.

Previous lunar impact

Back in 2022, Bill Gray also predicted a rocket impact with the moon. There was a little confusion about where the rocket came from, but the space junk did indeed hit the moon on March 4, 2022. And it left a mark, too. NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter took an image of the aftermath.

A rocket body struck the moon on March 4, 2022, near Hertzsprung crater. It created a double crater roughly 100 feet (30 meters) wide at its longest. Image via NASA/ Goddard/ Arizona State University.

A speeding object

Gray estimates the space junk will hit the moon at about 2.43 kilometers (1.51 miles) a second. That equates to 5,400 miles (8,700 kilometers) an hour. Because the moon has no real atmosphere, there will be nothing to slow it down.

Tracking the Falcon 9 upper stage

There have been hundreds of Falcon 9 launches. Usually, the spent rocket bodies orbit closely to Earth and eventually reenter our atmosphere. But some have gone on to orbit the sun.

This upper stage rocket has spent most of its time farther out than average, around the distance of the moon. Asteroid surveys pick up objects like this as they scan for dangerous space rocks. As Gray said:

The asteroid surveys would actually prefer not to observe space junk. Time spent observing junk is time not spent finding rocks. But both the rocks and the high-altitude space junk are slowly moving points of light in their images; they aren’t easy to distinguish. So the asteroid surveys find this sort of junk whether they want to or not.

Gray provides software tools for astronomers that help them distinguish between space rocks and space junk. He also computes orbits for high-orbiting objects the military doesn’t track. And he’s been tracking this piece of space junk for months. He’s known since September 2025 that the upper stage was likely on a collision course with the moon. And as he told EarthSky, he wasn’t surprised:

I’ve been checking for such possible impacts for about 20 years, ever since we started having many large bits of junk in orbits that could hit the moon. In a way, the only real surprise is that only two objects have hit the moon.

Rocket will hit the moon despite tiny pushes from sunlight

Over the past months he’s continued to track the object. The reason it can change course a tiny bit is due to the gentle push of sunlight on objects. And that little bit of push is tricky to track. As Gray said:

As an object tumbles, it may catch more or less sunlight, and may reflect some of it sideways.

But, as Gray told EarthSky:

I was reasonably sure a month or two later, but was in no rush to say anything about it. I figured I’d wait until the impact location was well established. So it was something of a gradual process, with no ‘Aha! It’s gonna hit!’ moment.

Not a lot of tracking farther from Earth

Gray told EarthSky:

I am an astronomer working under contract with both asteroid and artificial object observers. I started out doing this for natural objects (asteroids, comets, moons of other planets) about 30 years ago. A few years later, the asteroid surveys started to notice the occasional artificial object and asked me if I could find orbits for them as well.

And as Gray explains on his website, various countries carefully track objects in low-Earth orbit because there are so many pieces of debris with risks of collision with military and science satellites. Farther from Earth, there is less tracking. Or, as Gray said:

Generally speaking, high-altitude junk goes ignored. (Except, it appears, by me.)

Gray works with asteroid hunters. As he said:

My ‘day work’ is for the asteroid-hunting community … Most artificial objects are close to the Earth and move fast enough that there is no risk of mistaking them for an asteroid. But there are about a dozen ‘high-flying’ objects that can move slowly enough to look like a rock, at least briefly. For about 15 or 20 years now, I’ve taken these observations and computed orbits. Then, when the surveys find such objects, they can fairly quickly say ‘Never mind; it’s not a rock; it’s just another nuisance artificial object,’ and go back to looking for actual rocks.

Bottom line: A Falcon 9 rocket will hit the moon on August 5, 2026. How fast will it be going? Will we be able to see it? Answers here.

The post Falcon rocket will hit the moon on August 5 first appeared on EarthSky.

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/2KHN9s0

5 amazing places to see migrating birds in spring

Migrating sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis) stop for a rest at Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge in Colorado. Read on for 5 amazing places to see migrating birds like these this spring. Image via Rachel Portwood/ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

• Each spring, millions of birds migrate north to summer breeding grounds in the U.S. and Canada.
• So that makes this time of year fantastic for birding.
• From nature sanctuaries to your local park, here are some great places to see migrating birds this spring.

5 amazing places to see migrating birds in spring

As spring unfolds above the equator, millions of birds depart their overwintering habitats and fly north to summer breeding grounds in the U.S. and Canada. The spectacle of spring migration involves both the arrival of warm weather favorites, like red-winged blackbirds, and the brief passage of rarely seen species, like many wood warblers. And there are certain places within North America where watching bird migration can be particularly rewarding. So here are five to consider for your next birding adventure.

Common migratory flyways for songbirds in North America. Image via U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

High Island, Texas

High Island sits on top of a salt dome along the Gulf Coast of Texas near the Louisiana border. This elevated dome attracts weary birds that have traveled long distances over open waters from the Yucatán Peninsula.

There are four bird sanctuaries here: Boy Scout Woods, Smith Oaks, Eubanks Woods and Gast Red Bay. Each provides important habitat (food, water, shelter) for the migrants. Warblers, tanagers, orioles and grosbeaks abound. Roseate Spoonbills, egrets and herons nest in a rookery at Smith Oaks sanctuary.

Migration season at High Island runs mid-March to mid-May, but the best times to visit are around the end of April through early May, according to Houston Audubon. And when storms force the birds to “fallout” onto the land, the birding here can get intense, with birds on every tree.

A hungry painted bunting (Passerina ciris) eating a mulberry after arriving at High Island, Texas. Image via Lev Frid. Used with permission.

Science news, night sky events and beautiful photos, all in one place. Click here to subscribe to our free daily newsletter.

Magee Marsh, Ohio

Magee Marsh along the shores of Lake Erie spans just over 2,200 acres (8.9 square kilometers). The Ohio Department of Natural Resources owns the site. The nutrient-rich wetlands attract diverse birds during the migration season.

Spring migration here begins in March with the spring thaw and lasts through May. Waterfowl commonly seen in the wetlands in spring include blue-winged teals, gadwalls, northern shovelers, ring-necked ducks, northern pintails and American wigeons. The wood warblers in particular are a big draw. In fact, at least 36 species of warblers have been recorded at Magee Marsh over the years, including blue-winged warblers, orange-crowned warblers and prothonotary warblers.

A fun time to visit is during the Biggest Week in American Birding. This event is held every year in early May. Black Swamp Bird Observatory hosts the 10-day festival and offers guided tours of Magee Marsh and other nearby hotspots. And while there, visitors can attend bird identification workshops and presentations by luminaries in the birding world.

Satellite image of Magee Marsh, Ohio, on September 18, 2024. What’s with the colors? This image comes from NASA’s ASTER instrument on its Terra satellite, which images in visible light and infrared wavelengths. The red colors here mostly show vegetation, which reflects a lot of infrared light. Image NASA/JPL/ METI/ AIST/ Japan Space Systems/ U.S.-Japan ASTER Science Team.

Point Pelee, Ontario

Point Pelee National Park in Ontario, Canada, sits on a long, sandy spit that juts out into Lake Erie. The park contains the southernmost spot in mainland Canada. It is an important stopover site for migrants crossing the lake. In 1987, Point Pelee was designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. In 2006, the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada designated the park as a dark sky preserve.

Spring bird migration at Point Pelee runs from March, with the arrival of waterfowl, to early June, for late migrants such as shorebirds and flycatchers. The warblers, vireos, and tanagers are best viewed during early to mid-May. Plus, this timeframe coincides with the Festival of Birds. Visitors can choose from a number of guided hikes and birding lectures during the festival.

Prothonotary warbler (Protonotaria citrea) photographed at Point Pelee National Park, Ontario, Canada. Image via Deenaerrampalli/ Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Hawk Mountain, Pennsylvania

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is an observation, research and education facility dedicated to the conservation of birds of prey. Founded in the 1930s by Rosalie Edge, the sanctuary is located on Kittatinny Ridge in eastern Pennsylvania. The high elevations allow for expansive views of the surrounding forests and sky.

Spring migration counts at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary run from April 1 to May 15. During the count, trained birders keep a tally of the number and types of raptors seen each day. On big days with northerly winds, over 300 birds might be spotted. Common migrants include bald eagles, broad-winged hawks and American kestrels. Visitors are welcome to help spot raptors as they pass overhead.

Your hometown

Indeed, you might be surprised at how many different bird species visit local parks during spring migration. The website eBird has a great Explore Regions feature, where you can type in the county, click Hotspots, and see the tops sites for species. Visit any one of the places in the top 10 during spring migration and see what you can find. And on a big day, there likely will be many giddy birders out and about.

Bottom line: Birding during spring migration season can be particularly rewarding. Here are five amazing places to see migrating birds this spring.

Read more: Lights out for birds during spring migration!

Read more: Media We Love: The Merlin Bird ID app

The post 5 amazing places to see migrating birds in spring first appeared on EarthSky.

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/NHBnKfF

Migrating sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis) stop for a rest at Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge in Colorado. Read on for 5 amazing places to see migrating birds like these this spring. Image via Rachel Portwood/ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

• Each spring, millions of birds migrate north to summer breeding grounds in the U.S. and Canada.
• So that makes this time of year fantastic for birding.
• From nature sanctuaries to your local park, here are some great places to see migrating birds this spring.

5 amazing places to see migrating birds in spring

As spring unfolds above the equator, millions of birds depart their overwintering habitats and fly north to summer breeding grounds in the U.S. and Canada. The spectacle of spring migration involves both the arrival of warm weather favorites, like red-winged blackbirds, and the brief passage of rarely seen species, like many wood warblers. And there are certain places within North America where watching bird migration can be particularly rewarding. So here are five to consider for your next birding adventure.

Common migratory flyways for songbirds in North America. Image via U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

High Island, Texas

High Island sits on top of a salt dome along the Gulf Coast of Texas near the Louisiana border. This elevated dome attracts weary birds that have traveled long distances over open waters from the Yucatán Peninsula.

There are four bird sanctuaries here: Boy Scout Woods, Smith Oaks, Eubanks Woods and Gast Red Bay. Each provides important habitat (food, water, shelter) for the migrants. Warblers, tanagers, orioles and grosbeaks abound. Roseate Spoonbills, egrets and herons nest in a rookery at Smith Oaks sanctuary.

Migration season at High Island runs mid-March to mid-May, but the best times to visit are around the end of April through early May, according to Houston Audubon. And when storms force the birds to “fallout” onto the land, the birding here can get intense, with birds on every tree.

A hungry painted bunting (Passerina ciris) eating a mulberry after arriving at High Island, Texas. Image via Lev Frid. Used with permission.

Science news, night sky events and beautiful photos, all in one place. Click here to subscribe to our free daily newsletter.

Magee Marsh, Ohio

Magee Marsh along the shores of Lake Erie spans just over 2,200 acres (8.9 square kilometers). The Ohio Department of Natural Resources owns the site. The nutrient-rich wetlands attract diverse birds during the migration season.

Spring migration here begins in March with the spring thaw and lasts through May. Waterfowl commonly seen in the wetlands in spring include blue-winged teals, gadwalls, northern shovelers, ring-necked ducks, northern pintails and American wigeons. The wood warblers in particular are a big draw. In fact, at least 36 species of warblers have been recorded at Magee Marsh over the years, including blue-winged warblers, orange-crowned warblers and prothonotary warblers.

A fun time to visit is during the Biggest Week in American Birding. This event is held every year in early May. Black Swamp Bird Observatory hosts the 10-day festival and offers guided tours of Magee Marsh and other nearby hotspots. And while there, visitors can attend bird identification workshops and presentations by luminaries in the birding world.

Satellite image of Magee Marsh, Ohio, on September 18, 2024. What’s with the colors? This image comes from NASA’s ASTER instrument on its Terra satellite, which images in visible light and infrared wavelengths. The red colors here mostly show vegetation, which reflects a lot of infrared light. Image NASA/JPL/ METI/ AIST/ Japan Space Systems/ U.S.-Japan ASTER Science Team.

Point Pelee, Ontario

Point Pelee National Park in Ontario, Canada, sits on a long, sandy spit that juts out into Lake Erie. The park contains the southernmost spot in mainland Canada. It is an important stopover site for migrants crossing the lake. In 1987, Point Pelee was designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. In 2006, the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada designated the park as a dark sky preserve.

Spring bird migration at Point Pelee runs from March, with the arrival of waterfowl, to early June, for late migrants such as shorebirds and flycatchers. The warblers, vireos, and tanagers are best viewed during early to mid-May. Plus, this timeframe coincides with the Festival of Birds. Visitors can choose from a number of guided hikes and birding lectures during the festival.

Prothonotary warbler (Protonotaria citrea) photographed at Point Pelee National Park, Ontario, Canada. Image via Deenaerrampalli/ Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Hawk Mountain, Pennsylvania

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is an observation, research and education facility dedicated to the conservation of birds of prey. Founded in the 1930s by Rosalie Edge, the sanctuary is located on Kittatinny Ridge in eastern Pennsylvania. The high elevations allow for expansive views of the surrounding forests and sky.

Spring migration counts at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary run from April 1 to May 15. During the count, trained birders keep a tally of the number and types of raptors seen each day. On big days with northerly winds, over 300 birds might be spotted. Common migrants include bald eagles, broad-winged hawks and American kestrels. Visitors are welcome to help spot raptors as they pass overhead.

Your hometown

Indeed, you might be surprised at how many different bird species visit local parks during spring migration. The website eBird has a great Explore Regions feature, where you can type in the county, click Hotspots, and see the tops sites for species. Visit any one of the places in the top 10 during spring migration and see what you can find. And on a big day, there likely will be many giddy birders out and about.

Bottom line: Birding during spring migration season can be particularly rewarding. Here are five amazing places to see migrating birds this spring.

Read more: Lights out for birds during spring migration!

Read more: Media We Love: The Merlin Bird ID app

The post 5 amazing places to see migrating birds in spring first appeared on EarthSky.

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/NHBnKfF

Hercules is between 2 bright stars: Vega and Arcturus

Hercules the Strongman is, overall, a faint constellation. But its midsection contains the easy-to-see Keystone asterism. In order to find it, look between the bright stars Vega in Lyra the Harp and Arcturus in Boötes the Herdsman. Chart via EarthSky.

Don’t miss the next unmissable night sky event. Sign up for our free newsletter for daily night sky updates, as well as the latest science news.

Finding Hercules

Tonight, try locating the constellation Hercules the Strongman. This star pattern is ascending in the east-northeast on these Northern Hemisphere spring evenings. You can find it between two brilliantly bright stars, Arcturus and Vega.

The chart at the top of this post shows the evening sky in late April, when the constellation Hercules, and the two stars so essential for finding it, are well up in the northeastern to eastern sky.

The brighter of the two guide stars is Arcturus, in the constellation Boötes the Herdsman. The other, Vega, is in the constellation Lyra the Harp. At nightfall, Vega might still be below your horizon. If so, wait a while … it’ll rise soon.

Then if you draw a line between Arcturus and Vega, it’ll pass through what is known as the Keystone – a squarish asterism, or noticeable star pattern – in the center of Hercules.

As darkness falls, look for the Keystone to the upper right of the brilliant star Vega. Once you find the Keystone, you can look for M13, a wonderful globular star cluster within its boundaries. Chart via EarthSky.

The Keystone guides you to M13

The Keystone is helpful for several reasons. First, it’s a noticeable star pattern, so it can lead your eye to Hercules.

Second, the Keystone can help you find the most fascinating telescopic object within the boundaries of this constellation. This object is a globular star cluster known to stargazers as M13 or the Great Cluster. Although M13 is barely visible to the eye alone in dark skies, binoculars reveal a nebulous starlike patch of light. And telescopes show stars both on the periphery of the cluster and toward its center.

Chart showing M13 (the Great Cluster) in the Keystone. And M92, another globular cluster, lies above the Keystone. Image via IAU/ Sky & Telescope/ Wikipedia (CC BY 3.0).

Undoubtedly, this beautiful object is one of the galaxy’s oldest inhabitants. It’s a tightly packed spherical collection of about one million stars.

Read more: M13 or the Great Cluster in Hercules

EarthSky astronomy kits are perfect for beginners. Order today from the EarthSky store

M13, aka the Great Cluster. This object is a globular star cluster, one of our galaxy’s oldest inhabitants. Photo via ESA/ Hubble/ NASA.

But wait, there’s more

Although it’s not as spectacular as M13, Hercules has another great globular cluster, M92. It makes a triangle with the two northernmost stars in the Keystone. So imagine it is where Hercules’ head would be. Even though you can marginally see it without optical aid, it shows up easily in binoculars and a telescope.

Bottom line: Tonight, if you look between the brilliant stars Arcturus and Vega, you can find the constellation Hercules the Strongman. And look for its two fabulous globular clusters, easily found in binoculars.

The post Hercules is between 2 bright stars: Vega and Arcturus first appeared on EarthSky.

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/zSEDeHF

Hercules the Strongman is, overall, a faint constellation. But its midsection contains the easy-to-see Keystone asterism. In order to find it, look between the bright stars Vega in Lyra the Harp and Arcturus in Boötes the Herdsman. Chart via EarthSky.

Don’t miss the next unmissable night sky event. Sign up for our free newsletter for daily night sky updates, as well as the latest science news.

Finding Hercules

Tonight, try locating the constellation Hercules the Strongman. This star pattern is ascending in the east-northeast on these Northern Hemisphere spring evenings. You can find it between two brilliantly bright stars, Arcturus and Vega.

The chart at the top of this post shows the evening sky in late April, when the constellation Hercules, and the two stars so essential for finding it, are well up in the northeastern to eastern sky.

The brighter of the two guide stars is Arcturus, in the constellation Boötes the Herdsman. The other, Vega, is in the constellation Lyra the Harp. At nightfall, Vega might still be below your horizon. If so, wait a while … it’ll rise soon.

Then if you draw a line between Arcturus and Vega, it’ll pass through what is known as the Keystone – a squarish asterism, or noticeable star pattern – in the center of Hercules.

As darkness falls, look for the Keystone to the upper right of the brilliant star Vega. Once you find the Keystone, you can look for M13, a wonderful globular star cluster within its boundaries. Chart via EarthSky.

The Keystone guides you to M13

The Keystone is helpful for several reasons. First, it’s a noticeable star pattern, so it can lead your eye to Hercules.

Second, the Keystone can help you find the most fascinating telescopic object within the boundaries of this constellation. This object is a globular star cluster known to stargazers as M13 or the Great Cluster. Although M13 is barely visible to the eye alone in dark skies, binoculars reveal a nebulous starlike patch of light. And telescopes show stars both on the periphery of the cluster and toward its center.

Chart showing M13 (the Great Cluster) in the Keystone. And M92, another globular cluster, lies above the Keystone. Image via IAU/ Sky & Telescope/ Wikipedia (CC BY 3.0).

Undoubtedly, this beautiful object is one of the galaxy’s oldest inhabitants. It’s a tightly packed spherical collection of about one million stars.

Read more: M13 or the Great Cluster in Hercules

EarthSky astronomy kits are perfect for beginners. Order today from the EarthSky store

M13, aka the Great Cluster. This object is a globular star cluster, one of our galaxy’s oldest inhabitants. Photo via ESA/ Hubble/ NASA.

But wait, there’s more

Although it’s not as spectacular as M13, Hercules has another great globular cluster, M92. It makes a triangle with the two northernmost stars in the Keystone. So imagine it is where Hercules’ head would be. Even though you can marginally see it without optical aid, it shows up easily in binoculars and a telescope.

Bottom line: Tonight, if you look between the brilliant stars Arcturus and Vega, you can find the constellation Hercules the Strongman. And look for its two fabulous globular clusters, easily found in binoculars.

The post Hercules is between 2 bright stars: Vega and Arcturus first appeared on EarthSky.

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/zSEDeHF

Euclid Space Warps: Help spot galaxies bending spacetime!

These Euclid space telescope images show galaxies bending spacetime, causing light from more distant galaxies to distort around them. A new citizen science project, Space Warps, is enlisting members of the public to find more of these galaxies. Image via ESA/ Euclid/ Euclid Consortium/ NASA/ image processing by M. Walmsley/ M. Huertas-Company/ J.-C. Cuillandre.

ESA originally published this article on April 21, 2026. Edits by EarthSky.

Euclid Space Warps: Help spot galaxies bending spacetime!

With the launch of Space Warps, a new citizen science project, you can now join in the search to find galaxies that are bending the very fabric of the universe.

Hosted on the Zooniverse platform, this project sees members of the public search through never-before-seen images captured by the Euclid space telescope to find rare and elusive strong gravitational lenses. The project aims to shine a light on dark matter in galaxies and provide clues about mysterious dark energy.

Science news, night sky events and beautiful photos, all in one place. Click here to subscribe to EarthSky’s free daily newsletter.

A case of strong gravitational lensing around galaxy NGC 6505. The ring of light plus those 4 glowing lumps are all from one distant galaxy, its light being bent by the galaxy in the foreground. Image via ESA/ Euclid/ Euclid Consortium/ NASA/ Image processing by J.-C. Cuillandre/ G. Anselmi/ T. Li.

Gravity warps spacetime

Warps in spacetime do not only show up in science fiction movies like Interstellar. In real life, we can see the warping effect that gravity has on spacetime in the form of gravitational lensing.

The enormous gravity of a massive object – such as a galaxy or cluster of galaxies – distorts the shape of spacetime and can bend the light rays coming from a distant galaxy behind. By warping spacetime, the foreground galaxy acts like a magnifying glass.

Light from the background object that would be obscured doesn’t travel in a straight line anymore. Instead, it curves around the intervening mass. That often produces multiple images, stretched arcs, or even a complete ring known as an “Einstein ring,” like the one recently discovered by Euclid.

ESA’s Euclid telescope launched in July 2023 and is revolutionizing the studies of strong gravitational lensing by providing very sensitive imaging over large swaths of the sky. This is exactly what is needed to identify rare gravitational lenses.

In March 2025, 500 galaxy-galaxy strong lenses were found nestled in just the first 0.04% of Euclid data, most of them previously unknown. This pioneering catalog was created thanks to the combined effort from citizen scientists, artificial intelligence and researchers.

Look closely. Can you spot the ring of light around the center of this galaxy, NGC 6505? ESA’s Euclid telescope captured galaxy NGC 6505 acting as a gravitational lens, bending the light from a more distant galaxy and creating this Einstein ring. Image via ESA/ Euclid/ Euclid Consortium/ NASA. Image processing by J.-C. Cuillandre/ G. Anselmi/ T. Li.

Spot gravitational lenses with Space Warps

As Euclid continues its survey, sending around 100 gigabytes of data back to Earth every day, ESA and the Euclid Consortium once again need help from citizen scientists to identify strong gravitational lenses in a large data set.

For this, the Space Warps team has launched a citizen science project based on new Euclid images, which will be part of the future Euclid Data Release 1. This data is not public yet. So by participating in this new citizen science project, you can get an early glimpse of Euclid’s new images.

For this project, you will be inspecting new high quality imaging data from Euclid in which many previously unknown strong lenses are hiding. About 300,000 images pre-selected by AI algorithms will be shown, fine-tuned with the results from the initial citizen-science Euclid strong lens search.

These are the highest-ranked candidates from a whopping 72 million galaxies from Data Release 1 that were classified by the AI algorithms. Scientists expect that this exquisite high-quality data will reveal more than 10,000 new lenses.

View larger. | A zoomed-in view of Euclid’s Deep Field South. We see countless galaxies, along with a large galaxy cluster and some gravitational lenses. Image via ESA/ Euclid/ Euclid Consortium/ NASA. Image processing by J.-C. Cuillandre/ E. Bertin/ G. Anselmi.

What we can learn from strong lenses

The Euclid mission explores how the universe has expanded and how its structure has changed through cosmic history. It does so using mainly two methods: weak gravitational lensing and a phenomenon known as baryonic acoustic oscillations. From this, scientists can learn more about the role of gravity and the nature of dark matter and dark energy.

Strong gravitational lenses can also provide insights into these central questions. For example, strong lensing features can “weigh” individual galaxies and clusters of galaxies. This reveals the total matter (whether dark or light) and traces the distribution of dark matter.

By studying strong lenses across cosmic time, scientists can trace the expansion of the universe and its apparent acceleration. This will provide additional insight into the role of dark energy.

Aprajita Verma, Space Warps’ co-founder and project lead at the University of Oxford in the U.K., said:

We’ve already seen the success of combining AI with visual inspection by citizen volunteers and scientists on Space Warps, efficiently finding hundreds of high-probability lens candidates in an initial small Euclid search in 2024.

In this brand-new Data Release 1 data, 30 times larger than the initial search and together with our improved AI algorithms, we are expecting to find more than 10,000 high quality lens candidates. This is more than four times the number of lenses than we have been able to find since the first gravitational lens was discovered nearly 50 years ago.

We can’t wait to see what we will find within this unprecedented dataset. Join us on Space Warps to take part in this exciting search!

Bottom line: New citizen science project Space Warps lets you study new Euclid space telescope data to find galaxies bending the fabric of the universe.

Via ESA

Read more: New Euclid images reveal hidden gravitational lenses

The post Euclid Space Warps: Help spot galaxies bending spacetime! first appeared on EarthSky.

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/YA0TONK

These Euclid space telescope images show galaxies bending spacetime, causing light from more distant galaxies to distort around them. A new citizen science project, Space Warps, is enlisting members of the public to find more of these galaxies. Image via ESA/ Euclid/ Euclid Consortium/ NASA/ image processing by M. Walmsley/ M. Huertas-Company/ J.-C. Cuillandre.

ESA originally published this article on April 21, 2026. Edits by EarthSky.

Euclid Space Warps: Help spot galaxies bending spacetime!

With the launch of Space Warps, a new citizen science project, you can now join in the search to find galaxies that are bending the very fabric of the universe.

Hosted on the Zooniverse platform, this project sees members of the public search through never-before-seen images captured by the Euclid space telescope to find rare and elusive strong gravitational lenses. The project aims to shine a light on dark matter in galaxies and provide clues about mysterious dark energy.

Science news, night sky events and beautiful photos, all in one place. Click here to subscribe to EarthSky’s free daily newsletter.

A case of strong gravitational lensing around galaxy NGC 6505. The ring of light plus those 4 glowing lumps are all from one distant galaxy, its light being bent by the galaxy in the foreground. Image via ESA/ Euclid/ Euclid Consortium/ NASA/ Image processing by J.-C. Cuillandre/ G. Anselmi/ T. Li.

Gravity warps spacetime

Warps in spacetime do not only show up in science fiction movies like Interstellar. In real life, we can see the warping effect that gravity has on spacetime in the form of gravitational lensing.

The enormous gravity of a massive object – such as a galaxy or cluster of galaxies – distorts the shape of spacetime and can bend the light rays coming from a distant galaxy behind. By warping spacetime, the foreground galaxy acts like a magnifying glass.

Light from the background object that would be obscured doesn’t travel in a straight line anymore. Instead, it curves around the intervening mass. That often produces multiple images, stretched arcs, or even a complete ring known as an “Einstein ring,” like the one recently discovered by Euclid.

ESA’s Euclid telescope launched in July 2023 and is revolutionizing the studies of strong gravitational lensing by providing very sensitive imaging over large swaths of the sky. This is exactly what is needed to identify rare gravitational lenses.

In March 2025, 500 galaxy-galaxy strong lenses were found nestled in just the first 0.04% of Euclid data, most of them previously unknown. This pioneering catalog was created thanks to the combined effort from citizen scientists, artificial intelligence and researchers.

Look closely. Can you spot the ring of light around the center of this galaxy, NGC 6505? ESA’s Euclid telescope captured galaxy NGC 6505 acting as a gravitational lens, bending the light from a more distant galaxy and creating this Einstein ring. Image via ESA/ Euclid/ Euclid Consortium/ NASA. Image processing by J.-C. Cuillandre/ G. Anselmi/ T. Li.

Spot gravitational lenses with Space Warps

As Euclid continues its survey, sending around 100 gigabytes of data back to Earth every day, ESA and the Euclid Consortium once again need help from citizen scientists to identify strong gravitational lenses in a large data set.

For this, the Space Warps team has launched a citizen science project based on new Euclid images, which will be part of the future Euclid Data Release 1. This data is not public yet. So by participating in this new citizen science project, you can get an early glimpse of Euclid’s new images.

For this project, you will be inspecting new high quality imaging data from Euclid in which many previously unknown strong lenses are hiding. About 300,000 images pre-selected by AI algorithms will be shown, fine-tuned with the results from the initial citizen-science Euclid strong lens search.

These are the highest-ranked candidates from a whopping 72 million galaxies from Data Release 1 that were classified by the AI algorithms. Scientists expect that this exquisite high-quality data will reveal more than 10,000 new lenses.

View larger. | A zoomed-in view of Euclid’s Deep Field South. We see countless galaxies, along with a large galaxy cluster and some gravitational lenses. Image via ESA/ Euclid/ Euclid Consortium/ NASA. Image processing by J.-C. Cuillandre/ E. Bertin/ G. Anselmi.

What we can learn from strong lenses

The Euclid mission explores how the universe has expanded and how its structure has changed through cosmic history. It does so using mainly two methods: weak gravitational lensing and a phenomenon known as baryonic acoustic oscillations. From this, scientists can learn more about the role of gravity and the nature of dark matter and dark energy.

Strong gravitational lenses can also provide insights into these central questions. For example, strong lensing features can “weigh” individual galaxies and clusters of galaxies. This reveals the total matter (whether dark or light) and traces the distribution of dark matter.

By studying strong lenses across cosmic time, scientists can trace the expansion of the universe and its apparent acceleration. This will provide additional insight into the role of dark energy.

Aprajita Verma, Space Warps’ co-founder and project lead at the University of Oxford in the U.K., said:

We’ve already seen the success of combining AI with visual inspection by citizen volunteers and scientists on Space Warps, efficiently finding hundreds of high-probability lens candidates in an initial small Euclid search in 2024.

In this brand-new Data Release 1 data, 30 times larger than the initial search and together with our improved AI algorithms, we are expecting to find more than 10,000 high quality lens candidates. This is more than four times the number of lenses than we have been able to find since the first gravitational lens was discovered nearly 50 years ago.

We can’t wait to see what we will find within this unprecedented dataset. Join us on Space Warps to take part in this exciting search!

Bottom line: New citizen science project Space Warps lets you study new Euclid space telescope data to find galaxies bending the fabric of the universe.

Via ESA

Read more: New Euclid images reveal hidden gravitational lenses

The post Euclid Space Warps: Help spot galaxies bending spacetime! first appeared on EarthSky.

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/YA0TONK

Could paranormal experiences be due to low-frequency sound?

Could paranormal experiences be explained by very low-frequency sound? This kind of sound is what scientists call infrasound, and humans can’t hear it. But a new study says our bodies still respond to it. Image via Vera Gorbunova/ Unsplash.

• Infrasound is low-frequency sound below the range of human hearing. This sound can come from sources such as storms, traffic or even vibrating pipes in buildings.
• Recent experiments showed people can’t hear infrasound, yet their bodies still react to it. They showed higher stress hormones and increased irritability after exposure to infrasound.
• This reaction could explain some paranormal experiences. The unease or discomfort in old, abandoned buildings could stem from infrasound due to vibrating pipes, for example.

Frontiers published this original story on April 27, 2026. Edits by EarthSky.

You deserve a daily dose of good news. For the latest in science and the night sky, subscribe to EarthSky’s free daily newsletter.

Could paranormal experiences be due to low-frequency sound?

Humans can’t hear very low-frequency sound, known as infrasound … But our bodies still seem to respond to it. That’s the finding of a new study published on April 27, 2026, in which researchers played infrasound for test participants alongside music.

They found that although the listeners couldn’t accurately detect the infrasound, their irritability and cortisol levels rose. Cortisol is the “stress hormone,” and high levels indicate anxiety. So this stress response suggests our bodies may react to infrasound even when we can’t consciously hear it. That invisible reaction might even help explain why people report unusual experiences in places like supposedly haunted buildings.

Infrasound and paranormal experiences

Infrasound is very low-frequency sound, below 20 Hertz (Hz), which humans typically can’t hear. It can come from natural sources like storms, or from human-made sources like traffic. Some animals use it to communicate, while others avoid it.

Scientists investigating humans’ ability to sense infrasound determined that we can’t detect it, but we do respond to it. They found it’s linked to increased irritability and higher cortisol levels.

Rodney Schmaltz of MacEwan University in Canada is the senior author of the new article in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience. Schmaltz said:

Infrasound is pervasive in everyday environments, appearing near ventilation systems, traffic and industrial machinery. Many people have exposure to it without knowing it. Our findings suggest that even a brief exposure may shift mood and raise cortisol, which highlights the importance of understanding how infrasound affects people in real-world settings.

Consider visiting a supposedly haunted building. Your mood shifts, you feel agitated, but you can’t see or hear anything unusual. In an old building, there is a good chance that infrasound is present, particularly in basements where aging pipes and ventilation systems produce low-frequency vibrations. If you were told the building was haunted, you might attribute that agitation to something supernatural. In reality, you may simply have been exposed to infrasound.

Registering a stress response

The scientists recruited 36 participants and invited them to sit alone in a room while they played either calming or unsettling music. For half the participants, hidden subwoofer speakers played infrasound at 18 Hz. After listening, the subjects reported their feelings, their emotional rating of the music and whether they thought the infrasound was present. They also gave saliva samples before and after listening.

The scientists found that participants’ salivary cortisol levels were higher if they had been listening to infrasound. These participants also reported feeling more irritable and less interested. And they reported thinking the music was sadder. But they couldn’t tell they were listening to infrasound. Schmaltz said:

This study suggests that the body can respond to infrasound even when we can’t consciously hear it. Participants could not reliably identify whether infrasound was present, and their beliefs about whether it was on had no detectable effect on their cortisol or mood.

Kale Scatterty is the first author of the new study and a Ph.D. student at the University of Alberta. Scatterty said:

Increased irritability and higher cortisol are naturally related, because when people feel more irritated or stressed, cortisol tends to rise as part of the body’s normal stress response. But infrasound exposure had effects on both outcomes that went beyond that natural relationship.

Sounds you don’t hear but your body notices

These results indicate humans can sense but not identify infrasound, though the mechanism remains unclear. They also suggest we may need to investigate whether prolonged infrasound exposure could impact health through consistently elevated cortisol levels and wellbeing issues related to lowered mood and increased irritability.

Trevor Hamilton of MacEwan University, corresponding author, said:

Increased cortisol levels help the body respond to immediate stressors by inducing a state of vigilance. This is an evolutionarily adapted response that helps us in many situations. However, prolonged cortisol release is not a good thing. It can lead to a variety of physiological conditions and alter mental health.

If something feels off in an old, decrepit house, it could be the vibrations in the pipes. Image via HiQ-Visions/ Pixabay.

Larger studies come next

Because the sample was comparatively small, the scientists carried out sensitivity analyses before drawing conclusions from their results. They confirmed their study could detect moderate to large effects of infrasound, which includes their main findings. However, more research with greater, more diverse participant samples will be needed to fully understand how infrasound influences human emotion and behavior.

Scatterty said:

This study was in many ways a first step towards understanding the effects of infrasound on humans. So far, we’ve only tested a specific frequency. There could be many more frequencies and combinations that have their own differential effects. We also only collected subjective reports of how the participants felt after exposure, without directly observing their responses during the trial.

Schmaltz added:

The first priority would be testing a wider range of frequencies and exposure durations. Infrasound in real environments is rarely a single clean tone. And we don’t yet know how different frequencies or combinations affect mood and physiology. If those patterns become clearer, the findings could eventually inform noise regulations or building design standards. As someone who studies pseudoscience and misinformation, what stands out to me is that infrasound produces real, measurable reactions without any visible or audible source. So, the next time something feels inexplicably off in a basement or old building, consider that the cause might be vibrating pipes rather than restless spirits.

Bottom line: Research shows people can’t hear sounds at very low frequencies, yet they still respond to them. Could these sounds explain paranormal experiences?

Source: Infrasound exposure is linked to aversive responding, negative appraisal, and elevated salivary cortisol in humans

Via Frontiers

Read more: See and hear galaxies evolving in new simulations

Read more: The universe is vibrating, mounting evidence shows

The post Could paranormal experiences be due to low-frequency sound? first appeared on EarthSky.

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/w1uYorG

Could paranormal experiences be explained by very low-frequency sound? This kind of sound is what scientists call infrasound, and humans can’t hear it. But a new study says our bodies still respond to it. Image via Vera Gorbunova/ Unsplash.

• Infrasound is low-frequency sound below the range of human hearing. This sound can come from sources such as storms, traffic or even vibrating pipes in buildings.
• Recent experiments showed people can’t hear infrasound, yet their bodies still react to it. They showed higher stress hormones and increased irritability after exposure to infrasound.
• This reaction could explain some paranormal experiences. The unease or discomfort in old, abandoned buildings could stem from infrasound due to vibrating pipes, for example.

Frontiers published this original story on April 27, 2026. Edits by EarthSky.

You deserve a daily dose of good news. For the latest in science and the night sky, subscribe to EarthSky’s free daily newsletter.

Could paranormal experiences be due to low-frequency sound?

Humans can’t hear very low-frequency sound, known as infrasound … But our bodies still seem to respond to it. That’s the finding of a new study published on April 27, 2026, in which researchers played infrasound for test participants alongside music.

They found that although the listeners couldn’t accurately detect the infrasound, their irritability and cortisol levels rose. Cortisol is the “stress hormone,” and high levels indicate anxiety. So this stress response suggests our bodies may react to infrasound even when we can’t consciously hear it. That invisible reaction might even help explain why people report unusual experiences in places like supposedly haunted buildings.

Infrasound and paranormal experiences

Infrasound is very low-frequency sound, below 20 Hertz (Hz), which humans typically can’t hear. It can come from natural sources like storms, or from human-made sources like traffic. Some animals use it to communicate, while others avoid it.

Scientists investigating humans’ ability to sense infrasound determined that we can’t detect it, but we do respond to it. They found it’s linked to increased irritability and higher cortisol levels.

Rodney Schmaltz of MacEwan University in Canada is the senior author of the new article in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience. Schmaltz said:

Infrasound is pervasive in everyday environments, appearing near ventilation systems, traffic and industrial machinery. Many people have exposure to it without knowing it. Our findings suggest that even a brief exposure may shift mood and raise cortisol, which highlights the importance of understanding how infrasound affects people in real-world settings.

Consider visiting a supposedly haunted building. Your mood shifts, you feel agitated, but you can’t see or hear anything unusual. In an old building, there is a good chance that infrasound is present, particularly in basements where aging pipes and ventilation systems produce low-frequency vibrations. If you were told the building was haunted, you might attribute that agitation to something supernatural. In reality, you may simply have been exposed to infrasound.

Registering a stress response

The scientists recruited 36 participants and invited them to sit alone in a room while they played either calming or unsettling music. For half the participants, hidden subwoofer speakers played infrasound at 18 Hz. After listening, the subjects reported their feelings, their emotional rating of the music and whether they thought the infrasound was present. They also gave saliva samples before and after listening.

The scientists found that participants’ salivary cortisol levels were higher if they had been listening to infrasound. These participants also reported feeling more irritable and less interested. And they reported thinking the music was sadder. But they couldn’t tell they were listening to infrasound. Schmaltz said:

This study suggests that the body can respond to infrasound even when we can’t consciously hear it. Participants could not reliably identify whether infrasound was present, and their beliefs about whether it was on had no detectable effect on their cortisol or mood.

Kale Scatterty is the first author of the new study and a Ph.D. student at the University of Alberta. Scatterty said:

Increased irritability and higher cortisol are naturally related, because when people feel more irritated or stressed, cortisol tends to rise as part of the body’s normal stress response. But infrasound exposure had effects on both outcomes that went beyond that natural relationship.

Sounds you don’t hear but your body notices

These results indicate humans can sense but not identify infrasound, though the mechanism remains unclear. They also suggest we may need to investigate whether prolonged infrasound exposure could impact health through consistently elevated cortisol levels and wellbeing issues related to lowered mood and increased irritability.

Trevor Hamilton of MacEwan University, corresponding author, said:

Increased cortisol levels help the body respond to immediate stressors by inducing a state of vigilance. This is an evolutionarily adapted response that helps us in many situations. However, prolonged cortisol release is not a good thing. It can lead to a variety of physiological conditions and alter mental health.

If something feels off in an old, decrepit house, it could be the vibrations in the pipes. Image via HiQ-Visions/ Pixabay.

Larger studies come next

Because the sample was comparatively small, the scientists carried out sensitivity analyses before drawing conclusions from their results. They confirmed their study could detect moderate to large effects of infrasound, which includes their main findings. However, more research with greater, more diverse participant samples will be needed to fully understand how infrasound influences human emotion and behavior.

Scatterty said:

This study was in many ways a first step towards understanding the effects of infrasound on humans. So far, we’ve only tested a specific frequency. There could be many more frequencies and combinations that have their own differential effects. We also only collected subjective reports of how the participants felt after exposure, without directly observing their responses during the trial.

Schmaltz added:

The first priority would be testing a wider range of frequencies and exposure durations. Infrasound in real environments is rarely a single clean tone. And we don’t yet know how different frequencies or combinations affect mood and physiology. If those patterns become clearer, the findings could eventually inform noise regulations or building design standards. As someone who studies pseudoscience and misinformation, what stands out to me is that infrasound produces real, measurable reactions without any visible or audible source. So, the next time something feels inexplicably off in a basement or old building, consider that the cause might be vibrating pipes rather than restless spirits.

Bottom line: Research shows people can’t hear sounds at very low frequencies, yet they still respond to them. Could these sounds explain paranormal experiences?

Source: Infrasound exposure is linked to aversive responding, negative appraisal, and elevated salivary cortisol in humans

Via Frontiers

Read more: See and hear galaxies evolving in new simulations

Read more: The universe is vibrating, mounting evidence shows

The post Could paranormal experiences be due to low-frequency sound? first appeared on EarthSky.

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/w1uYorG

The biggest US supervolcanoes you’ve never heard of

Wah Wah Springs in Utah and Nevada and La Garita in Colorado are 2 of the biggest U.S. supervolcanoes. Heard of them? Probably not! Supervolcanoes don’t look like pointy mountains. Instead, they’re collapsed calderas that can erupt for weeks. Image via Dane Amacher/ Pexels.

Science news, night sky events and beautiful photos, all in one place. Click here to subscribe to EarthSky’s free daily newsletter.

The biggest US supervolcanoes you’ve never heard of

When you hear the word supervolcano, you might think of Yellowstone National Park. Some 2 million years ago, the Yellowstone volcano erupted so violently that it covered more than 5,790 square miles (15,000 square kilometers) with ash. Its deposits covered 21 states and parts of Canada.

But there were two other eruptions of supervolcanoes within the United States that were even larger. One was La Garita in Colorado 27.8 million years ago. And the other was at Wah Wah Springs in Utah and Nevada 30 million years ago.

Why haven’t you heard of them?

Despite their enormous size, these supervolcanoes are not widely known outside scientific circles. That’s partly because they’re so old. Erosion has softened their features, and later geological activity has reshaped the land.

Yet both these ancient eruptions – in present-day Colorado and spanning the Utah-Nevada state line – rank among the largest known volcanic events in Earth’s history.

In contrast, Yellowstone is geologically young and still active. Its geysers and hot springs still showcase the land’s volcanic nature. Plus, there’s a chance that Yellowstone will erupt again someday, though another supereruption is far from guaranteed. And it could be tens of thousands of years in the future.

Wah Wah Springs is the largest known US eruption

The Wah Wah Springs Caldera eruption occurred about 30 million years ago. It erupted after the age of the dinosaurs but before the rise of humans. But the rhinos, camels, tortoises and palm trees that lived there at the time are still preserved in the sediments.

Wah Wah Springs is one of the largest volcanic eruptions scientists have ever discovered. And they only did so in 2013.

Scientists from Brigham Young University said that the volcano erupted over the course of a week, releasing some 201 trillion cubic feet (5,700 cubic kilometers) of ash and magma. To put that into perspective, it was about 5,000 times larger than the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.

Ash from Wah Wah Springs blanketed vast regions of what is now the western United States. Some of the debris from this eruption still exists in layers up to 13,000 feet (4 km) thick in southern Utah.

Watch Brigham Young University scientists describe the Wah Wah Springs Caldera supervolcano.

La Garita still shows its scars in Colorado

Another colossal eruption occurred at the La Garita Caldera in southern Colorado some 28 million years ago. It was a time of intense volcanic activity across what we now call the San Juan volcanic field. La Garita belched out around 176 trillion cubic feet (5,000 cubic kilometers) of material that spread across tens of thousands of square miles.

You can still see the results of this supervolcano in the Wheeler Geologic Area near Creede, Colorado. Erosion of the volcanic ash has created needlelike formations. Geologists have named the deposits left behind by this eruption the Fish Canyon Tuff.

Today, it’s still possible to make out the caldera – or the collapsed basin of the volcano – in satellite images of Colorado. The area is directly west of Great Sand Dunes National Park.

This is the Wheeler Geologic Area, part of the La Garita Wilderness in Colorado. These needle-like spires of rock are remnants of the supervolcano from 28 million years ago. Geologists call this specific deposit the Fish Canyon Tuff. Image via USDA/ US Forest Service.

What makes a supervolcano?

Scientists use the term supervolcano for eruptions that eject more than 240 cubic miles (1,000 cubic kilometers) of material. Both Wah Wah Springs and La Garita far exceed that threshold. Fortunately, both these supervolcanoes are now extinct. Yellowstone is still an active volcanic landscape.

Supervolcanic eruptions don’t look like the cone-shaped volcanoes we often imagine. Instead, they involve massive underground magma chambers. When pressure builds to a breaking point, the ground above collapses, forming a caldera. This huge depression can span dozens of miles.

The eruption itself can last for days or weeks. And it sends towering columns of ash into the atmosphere, triggering flows of superheated gas and rock called pyroclastic flows. Supereruptions, though rare, have global consequences. Ash clouds can block sunlight, alter climate and disrupt ecosystems worldwide. The eruption of Mount Tambora in 1815, just shy of a supereruption, created The Year Without a Summer.

A different kind of landscape

As you can see, tens of millions of years ago, the American West was home to massive volcanic fields. The eruptions from the Wah Wah Springs and La Garita supervolcanoes created a layered terrain. And erosion and tectonic forces wore down these volcanoes and layers of tuff, leaving us with the landscapes we see today.

Bottom line: Two of the biggest US supervolcanoes erupted millions of years ago, and you’ve probably never heard of them: Wah Wah Springs and La Garita.

Read more: Juno spots most extreme volcanic activity on Io to date

Read more: The most recent volcanoes on Mars were surprisingly active

The post The biggest US supervolcanoes you’ve never heard of first appeared on EarthSky.

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/AIgewtn

Wah Wah Springs in Utah and Nevada and La Garita in Colorado are 2 of the biggest U.S. supervolcanoes. Heard of them? Probably not! Supervolcanoes don’t look like pointy mountains. Instead, they’re collapsed calderas that can erupt for weeks. Image via Dane Amacher/ Pexels.

Science news, night sky events and beautiful photos, all in one place. Click here to subscribe to EarthSky’s free daily newsletter.

The biggest US supervolcanoes you’ve never heard of

When you hear the word supervolcano, you might think of Yellowstone National Park. Some 2 million years ago, the Yellowstone volcano erupted so violently that it covered more than 5,790 square miles (15,000 square kilometers) with ash. Its deposits covered 21 states and parts of Canada.

But there were two other eruptions of supervolcanoes within the United States that were even larger. One was La Garita in Colorado 27.8 million years ago. And the other was at Wah Wah Springs in Utah and Nevada 30 million years ago.

Why haven’t you heard of them?

Despite their enormous size, these supervolcanoes are not widely known outside scientific circles. That’s partly because they’re so old. Erosion has softened their features, and later geological activity has reshaped the land.

Yet both these ancient eruptions – in present-day Colorado and spanning the Utah-Nevada state line – rank among the largest known volcanic events in Earth’s history.

In contrast, Yellowstone is geologically young and still active. Its geysers and hot springs still showcase the land’s volcanic nature. Plus, there’s a chance that Yellowstone will erupt again someday, though another supereruption is far from guaranteed. And it could be tens of thousands of years in the future.

Wah Wah Springs is the largest known US eruption

The Wah Wah Springs Caldera eruption occurred about 30 million years ago. It erupted after the age of the dinosaurs but before the rise of humans. But the rhinos, camels, tortoises and palm trees that lived there at the time are still preserved in the sediments.

Wah Wah Springs is one of the largest volcanic eruptions scientists have ever discovered. And they only did so in 2013.

Scientists from Brigham Young University said that the volcano erupted over the course of a week, releasing some 201 trillion cubic feet (5,700 cubic kilometers) of ash and magma. To put that into perspective, it was about 5,000 times larger than the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.

Ash from Wah Wah Springs blanketed vast regions of what is now the western United States. Some of the debris from this eruption still exists in layers up to 13,000 feet (4 km) thick in southern Utah.

Watch Brigham Young University scientists describe the Wah Wah Springs Caldera supervolcano.

La Garita still shows its scars in Colorado

Another colossal eruption occurred at the La Garita Caldera in southern Colorado some 28 million years ago. It was a time of intense volcanic activity across what we now call the San Juan volcanic field. La Garita belched out around 176 trillion cubic feet (5,000 cubic kilometers) of material that spread across tens of thousands of square miles.

You can still see the results of this supervolcano in the Wheeler Geologic Area near Creede, Colorado. Erosion of the volcanic ash has created needlelike formations. Geologists have named the deposits left behind by this eruption the Fish Canyon Tuff.

Today, it’s still possible to make out the caldera – or the collapsed basin of the volcano – in satellite images of Colorado. The area is directly west of Great Sand Dunes National Park.

This is the Wheeler Geologic Area, part of the La Garita Wilderness in Colorado. These needle-like spires of rock are remnants of the supervolcano from 28 million years ago. Geologists call this specific deposit the Fish Canyon Tuff. Image via USDA/ US Forest Service.

What makes a supervolcano?

Scientists use the term supervolcano for eruptions that eject more than 240 cubic miles (1,000 cubic kilometers) of material. Both Wah Wah Springs and La Garita far exceed that threshold. Fortunately, both these supervolcanoes are now extinct. Yellowstone is still an active volcanic landscape.

Supervolcanic eruptions don’t look like the cone-shaped volcanoes we often imagine. Instead, they involve massive underground magma chambers. When pressure builds to a breaking point, the ground above collapses, forming a caldera. This huge depression can span dozens of miles.

The eruption itself can last for days or weeks. And it sends towering columns of ash into the atmosphere, triggering flows of superheated gas and rock called pyroclastic flows. Supereruptions, though rare, have global consequences. Ash clouds can block sunlight, alter climate and disrupt ecosystems worldwide. The eruption of Mount Tambora in 1815, just shy of a supereruption, created The Year Without a Summer.

A different kind of landscape

As you can see, tens of millions of years ago, the American West was home to massive volcanic fields. The eruptions from the Wah Wah Springs and La Garita supervolcanoes created a layered terrain. And erosion and tectonic forces wore down these volcanoes and layers of tuff, leaving us with the landscapes we see today.

Bottom line: Two of the biggest US supervolcanoes erupted millions of years ago, and you’ve probably never heard of them: Wah Wah Springs and La Garita.

Read more: Juno spots most extreme volcanic activity on Io to date

Read more: The most recent volcanoes on Mars were surprisingly active

The post The biggest US supervolcanoes you’ve never heard of first appeared on EarthSky.

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/AIgewtn